Problems · NHTSA complaints
2016 Volvo XC70 problems
Owners filed 7 complaints about the 2016 Volvo XC70 with NHTSA between Mar 2018 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is engine (2).
Complaints
7
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine2
- Seat belts1
- Electrical system1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Power train1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
0
0
1
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
2 reports
“VOLVO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE.”
Seat belts
1 report1 related recall
“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.”
Electrical system
1 report1 related recall
“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.”
Visibility/wiper
1 report
“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.”
Power train
1 report
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.