10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,923 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Volvo XC90 brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Volvo XC90:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2016 Volvo XC90 Owner Comments

problem #13

Jan 012020

XC90

  • 59,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The controls on steering intermittently disabled. I take it to the dealer they updated the software and it was fixed for while, but it reappeared again! many Volvo owners has the similar issues most of them ended up replacing the control module part on the steering wheel. This is a dangerous symptom since most drivers like me rely heavily on these controls to select vehicle system options and cruise control. Also dealer asking me to change the break components very frequently sometimes just 20000 miles. I am ended paying hefty price of these parts to keep the breaks safe.

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #12

Sep 012015

XC90

  • 2,500 miles
I purchased a 2016 XC90 in july15. Shortly after the purchase, I started to notice issues with the brakes and various other issues. I have taken the car into service 14 times since purchase with on a few for regular maintenance. Brake pads and both front and rear roters have been replaced, but the brake issue has not been resolved. I still frequently but randomly hear clicking sounds near to the brake paddle. I am mostly concerned that it happens when I am driving high speed while trying to slow down. If root cause cannot be identified after so many attempts of fixing, I worry that one day this car will kill someone. I have attached service records and a recording of the clicking. In addition to the brake, I also have many other issues which can be found on the service record, mostly recently, the car was on big smoke while I was driving and fire truck had to come for assistance. I am seeking your help to solve the problem. As I had so many issues with this car and one still haven't been fixed, I have no confidence to continue to drive the car

- Milton, GA, USA

problem #11

Dec 222017

XC90 4-cyl

  • 16,000 miles
On 22 Dec 2017, while driving my Volvo XC90 hybrid R-design, I received an error light that stated 12 volt battery had an issue. I called the Volvo dealership in sarasota and spoke to the service manager, joe rice to let him know about this issue. While on the phone, an additional error light "ABS" and then a few seconds later a car with a squiggly lanes error light came on. I immediately lost the ability to brake, I lost the ability to steer, I lost the ability to put the SUV into neutral, I lost the ability to put on my hazard blinking light. All I could do is take my foot of the gas pedal but because I was not able to put the SUV in neutral, and had no brakes, I continued to move. The screen on my front console went black and the middle console went black. If I was on any busy road or expressway, I would have immediately been in an accident. Luckily after miles of forced driving, and with the help of the service manager, apply manual brakes by flooring the brake pedal as hard as possible to the floor and tap, not pump. This electrical failure defect is so detrimental that it will cause accidents resulting in death. Volvo has kept my car since 22 Dec and they stated that they are changing out the computer that caused this issue. I'm afraid that Volvo might not disclose this defect to NHTSA and that someone or someone else's family with be in an accident resulting in death. This is a very serious problem and beg NHTSA to look into the matter expeditiously to recall Volvo with these defects. If NHTSA moves quickly, they have the ability to prevent accidents and death. I'm available to provide a sworn statement to the incident and willing to help anyway I can. Thank you for your consideration, very respectfully, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Parrish, FL, USA

problem #10

Jul 072016

XC90

  • 881 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle lost all power while I was driving on a freeway. The power came back on, (showing certain features but not all) briefly for a minute and then shut down again. In addition to this problem, a consistent issue that has happened no less than 6 times over the course of a year is the vehicle interprets there is something in its path and slams on the brakes when there is nothing in its path. There is no car, person, object, plant, etc. In the way of the vehicle at all.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

problem #9

May 132017

XC90

  • miles
Volvo XC90 2016 hybrid -safety issues and terrible customer service. I started the car and my brakes suddenly made this weird noise and I could feel a shift in the brake pedal. Up popped a notice on the screen by the odometer saying "brake pedal characteristics changed service required." I started to drive my kids home, thinking it was just a service notice and not a tow situation. As I drove on town roads (not hwy), the brake made a grinding sound (could also feel it in the pedal) when lightly depressed and when I fully pressed the brake to slow or stop, it wouldn't do anything at first and then it would suddenly engage in a jolting and jerky stop motion it was very scary to drive the car like this. I wasn't sure if the brakes were going to work well enough to get me and my two children home. Fortunately, we did make it home but the car is not safe to drive like this. Volvo towed the car out of my driveway this am. The westport service dept claimed they have "never heard of the issue, " despite my finding of countless similar complaints online and a notation about it in the manual. I've only had this vehicle for 6mo. It was new off the lot.

- Weston, CT, USA

problem #8

Jan 312017

XC90

  • 6,400 miles
Brakes/grinding noise happened automatically without any reason or object near. Car was traveling 50mph and I had to pull over to the shoulder. Restarting the car, it was able to drive away. Definitely not safe to have the brakes come on like that.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #7

Nov 012016

XC90 4-cyl

  • 300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2016 XC90, engine is decelerating on street road going from 40-45 miles per hour, to 10 miles per hour suddenly and quickly. With closure of back door where there is no lock button to hit by accident, car is locking all doors by itself when closing the passenger door. I am aware of babies being locked in the cars due to this fault in system and my pet was locked in due to the locks locking on their own when I closed passenger door which does not have a lock button I could have hit by accident. Front end crash going off and slightly braking on highway and on city streets when it should not, nothing in front of car numerous times and is not going off when it should for instance someone cutting car off within 2 feet several times. Dashboard screen goes blank while driving meaning you can not see speed, etc.. literally every function on car randomly does not work. Battery/alternator is not recharging/maintaining charge long enough to keep auto start/stop engine feature working, which means 3.5 miles more per gallon for me with my extremely careful, not riding gas pedal into lights. Some say foot detection module is draining rear battery. It has been worked on 7 times with less than 5,000 miles. Others online have described same issues. I have invoices of taking into dealer each time. I have never reported any faulty product but am very concerned for safety features will randomly and actually do not work while driving. You ask when started- vehicle purchased in April 2016 and has been from the beginning with no remedies. I have gotten extremely low battery signals and warnings that my car will shut down in a few minutes. They seem to have taken away that warning in the latest software update because my car has less charge at times then when I originally received the warning. In other words, I no longer get the warning even when my battery is very low.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #6

Dec 142016

XC90

  • 2,670 miles
Within a month of purchase issues with the cargo door started, door would not close, parked in my garage unloading groceries, called our Volvo service manager repeatedly for help, no answer, it finally closed an hour later.then the battery low charge light kept coming on, finally took it in for both issues, they updated, showed me that the door worked and charged the battery.another month went by and had a low battery issue took it back in they updated again and charged the battery again.had a bad sensor issue and the cargo door decided not to open, cargo button would not work.took it in they updated and changed the sensor.another month or so later had a recall on it, took it in, updated it. Then another recall, updated it.started auto correcting and braking while being driven on a major street.then the control pad wouldn't work, took it in it needed an update. Another recall a month or so later, went to take it in and it wouldn't drive, put it in reverse, it went forward, put it in forward it went in reverse, then the heater wouldn't work, the control pad started freezing all on the way to take it in for a recall. We were told it would be fixed with the update.car turned off and locked because I moved my purse to the other side of my body while driving.then about another month later it does the same reverse when put into drive, the control pad starts acting up, radio, phone and climate control freeze.then the cargo bay door closes on my son while we are unloading groceries without anyone touching it or being in the car besides him partially in the back to reach the furthest grocery bags. Taking it in again this week, but that's the last straw!I will no longer drive it as I do not trust what will malfunction next, my son narrowly escaped injury by diving out to the ground because I could not stop the cargo door from closing, car was parked and turned off inside my garage

- Greensburg, PA, USA

problem #5

Oct 262016

XC90

  • 1,000 miles
On approximately six different occasions, the collision avoidance system has been triggered erroneously, when no other vehicles were near my car, to the point that the audible and visual alarms were triggered, my driver's seatbelt pulled me back against the driver's seat, two of those times the car swerved itself and another two of those times the car braked itself, without any prompting from the driver to do so. The dealership told me today that because the system works on radar that sometimes this will happen. I believe that these systems need to be practically error proof because if the car brakes itself, or swerves itself, without any action from the driver it could potentially *cause* an accident. Not to mention that it's very scary when it happens and then there has to be some emotional recovery as a driver to overcome these episodes. The car has about 1000 miles on it. All of these incidents happened on city streets, while the car was going anywhere from 25-45 mph.

- Alhambra, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 152016

XC90

  • 13,000 miles
At least three times now the automatic braking system has applied without any object or vehicle in front. Once was on the I95 at 65mph going under a bridge the brake suddenly applied causing the car to dip and passengers to be shaken, then it continued as normal. Another time on the I78 near newark airport at 50mph passing some parked cars on the shoulder the brakes applied. Another time in local traffic at 30mph the brakes applied possibly when there was a slight dip in the road. The car has been looked at a couple of times and had a software update, but it still does it. It has now been in the shop for two weeks with no result Volvo suggested it was ezpass and we could wrap the ezpass in foil (and what, unwrap it for each toll booth!). this is a frightening safety issue because if we had been tailgated a car would have hit us.

- Bernardsville, NJ, USA

problem #3

Sep 202016

XC90

  • 50 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The "auto braking" function related to the passive collision avoidance activates with no other object in the automobiles path. It has activated 6 times in the past 4 months. The car went into the dealership in September 2016 and they said they could not replicate the incident (not surprising as it happens on a "random" basis. In the past 10 days it activated 3 times. It was taken to the dealership on 9/30/16 and is still there. I also have a colleague with the same vehicle (inscription trim package) and they are experiencing the same random "auto brake" activity. It has done it at low speed and medium speeds in residential areas, as well as at 60 mph on the freeway. It has activated while going straight, going down a hill with no visible car or object in site, and while turning. Very concerning and it is an immediate safety hazard.

- Sammamish, WA, USA

problem #2

Feb 232016

XC90

  • miles
While driving on a city street I put the car in eco mode. The car was moving at the time. I noticed that the car seemed to be driving loudly. As I turned left, I saw the car was in manual mode and was in first gear. So I took my foot off of the brake to slow down the car and try to put it into drive. As I tried to move the gear shifter, the car came to a complete, sudden stop. It felt like all four wheels were suddenly and immediately locked. I could not move them, even as I hit the gas. I did not see any indication on the dashboard that the emergency brake had been activated. I had not fiddled in any way with the button that allows me to change to eco mode or with the parking brake. In the moment immediately preceding the stop, I had my left hand on the steering wheel and my right hand on the gear shifter. The person behind me rear-ended me. The damage to my car was minimal. I had been the first person in the line to turn left, so there was no one in front of me. I am not sure how I was able to get the car started again. I think I turned the stop/start button a couple of times. I later attempted to recreate the automatic stop. Before making a left turn, I put the car into eco mode. As I turned, I slowly released the gas and slowly braked. The car again came to an immediate stop, as though all 4 wheels were locked at the same time. When then happened, I managed to get the car going again, and the next time I put my foot on the brake, the car came to a screeching halt again. I have not been able to recreate this scenario since then, including while trying to drive the car with a dealer rep. The dealer had a technician come in from ky, and he was not able to find any problems.

- Solon, OH, USA

problem #1

Sep 252015

XC90

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,200 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. While driving approximately 50 mph, the brakes independently engaged without warning and slowed the vehicle down to approximately 5 mph. The city safety warning indicator illuminated after the brakes independently engaged. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,200....updated 12/03/15 updated 4/9/18

- Driftwood, TX, USA

Not what you are looking for?