2016 Volvo XC70 Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary
The 2016 Volvo XC70 has 7 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve engine and unknown or other.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 7 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
ENGINE
2 28.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 14.3%
POWER TRAIN
1 14.3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 14.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 14.3%
Quick Insights
The top category is ENGINE, accounting for 28.6% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 6 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
Subscribe to Recall Alerts
Get notified when a new recall or important ownership update lands for the 2016 Volvo XC70.
Free alerts based on U.S. recall data. Unsubscribe anytime.
What owners keep reporting on the 2016 Volvo XC70
The 2016 Volvo XC70 has 7 owner complaints in this dataset. ENGINE is the most common complaint category, representing about 29% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2016 Volvo XC70 are ENGINE (2), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1), POWER TRAIN (1).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 3 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2016 Volvo XC70?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 6 of 6 systems
ENGINE
2 Reports29% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Car stalled at an intersection twice. We took it to a repair shop after the first instance and they told us the battery had died, though they were able to charge it and it restarted fine. They could not find any other issues. We continued to drive it and two days later the car died at another intersection just after my wife had picked up our kids from school. We had it towed to the dealer this time. I relayed the recall information for an earlier or different model of my car that sounded like the same issue: the starter motor fuse. I believe this to be the same issue even though my car did not show up on the recall.
10/6/2021
VOLVO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE.
4/12/2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 Report14% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
OWNER ON INTERSTATE AT POSTED SPEED (65) HEARD EXPLOSIVE SOUND OF THE SUNROOF EXPLODING. NO OTHER CARS WERE AHEAD OR ALONGSIDE, AND NO EVIDENCE OF A THROWN OR DROPPED OBJECT WAS APPARENT AT THAT TIME OR AFTERWARD. FORTUNATELY THE SUNSHADE SHIELDED HER FROM MOST OF THE BROKEN GLASS. DEALER CALLED IT AN 'ACT OF GOD' AND WOULD NOT HONOR A WARRANTY CLAIM FOR THE DAMAGE ' ESTIMATED AT OVER $1,100. INSURANCE COMPANY IS COVERING ALL COSTS, INCLUDING RENTAL CAR, UNTIL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.
3/14/2018
POWER TRAIN
1 Report14% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
WHEN COLD SOMETIMES NOT ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR OR NEUTRAL. AFTER DRIVING, ABLE TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE OR REVERSE BACK TO PARK BUT GET MESSAGE SAYING "CAR IS NOT IN PARK - SHIFT TO PARK". WHEN IN NEUTRAL SOMETIMES NOT ABLE MOVE SHIFTER FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE OR PARK. WHEN CONTACTED DEALER FOR SERVICE THEY SEEMED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERNS ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE CAR ON DEMAND, AS WELL AS NOT KNOWING IF CAR IS TRULY IN PARK OR NOT.
3/22/2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 Report14% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
THE BACKUP CAMERA IS MALFUNCTIONING NOW BECAUSE THE VIEW FIELD IS PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY THE VEHICLE BODY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE'RE SOME OTHER CARS (INCLUDING SOME NEW CARS AT DEALER) HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I VISITED THE RETAILER AND THEN CONTACTED THE CUSTOM CARE CENTER OF VOLVO. HOWEVER, THE RESPONSE IS DISAPPOINTING (HONESTLY, UNACCEPTABLE) BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT VOLVO CANNOT FIX IT.
10/15/2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 Report14% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
We have experienced three major defects with this vehicle. First and most concerning is the intermittent blackout of the driver's instrument panel (aka driver's information module, DIM). Second most conerning is the defect in the trailer lighting control module that leaves stop, running and signal lighting on our trailer unreliable. Both of these defects appear to be design or manufacturing defects that can be corrected by upgrading the relevent parts. The third defect is in the design of the traction control system that has no physical switch readily accessible to the driver for temporary use in emergency situations, but rather is buried in the MyCar software selection, labeled "Sport Mode." This design requres a driver to override the traction control during the entire driving session, leaving the car without traction control when it might be needed during the same inclement road conditions that would warrant momentary deactivation of the system. Ie, in icy conditions one would want traction control on most times, but not when starting on ice or mounting snow berms at driveway exits, etc.
2/27/2023
SEAT BELTS
1 Report14% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The seatbelts on the front driver and passenger side have failed to release when trying to unbuckle. This is a hazard. If there was a moment where it's imperative to leave the car (fire, water, etc) Driver and passenger could get locked in their seatbelts without the ability to exit the vehicle. Volvo would have covered it if the factor warranty was still active. My complaint wa ignored while the vehicle was under warranty. Now that it is out of warranty I am forced to replace the failed parts out of my pocket.
1/24/2024
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2016 Volvo XC70?
Are complaints about the 2016 Volvo XC70 a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2016 Volvo XC70?
Are complaints about the 2016 Volvo XC70 severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Volvo XC70: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 7
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
We may earn a commission via links on this page.