AI Damage2016 Volvo S60: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Volvo S60 filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 156 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 156
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 100% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 50% of all complaints
- Engine: 2 complaints (100% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (50% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · turbo · 5 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Seat belts | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
It at one time had a safety recall and whoever at the the time never had it repaired but it has outdated piston rings that leads to progressive oil consumption, it’s misfiring and leads to catastrophic engine failure.
I did research and [dealer], they checked the data base and told me that previous owner had never had the piston rings updated and would cause high oil consumption leading to catastrophic engine failure & would have to have engine rebuilt or whole new engine with updated pistons , which the dealership never told me…
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,862 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 11% least complained about).
On average one model year of the S60 has 3 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 2, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This is a Technical Journal
Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
- This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any…
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior…
- This is a TJ text, only no attachments - If the Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) does not work in…
This is a TJ text, only no attachments - If the Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) does not work in Sensus Connect vehicle, follow advice under "Service". This Technical Journal is only valid for vehicles with…
- This is a Technical Journal
Vehicle type and platform identification.
- This is a Technical Journal
Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V.
…
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Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified…
- This is a Technical Journal
Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist. To provide timely and high-quality feedback to the appropriate department or factory
- Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service
- This is a Technical Journal
High Temperature Message in DIM after Coolant Pump Replacement. Replace coolant pump
- This is a Technical Journal
SiriusXM not Available. Perform an update of the RDAR (Sirius Tuner Module) by downloading an RDAR upgrade with VIDA.
- This is a Technical Journal
VIDA Main battery diagnostic - Prompted to charge battery a second time. Use had held tester.
- Extended Warranty P10186
VEP4 Oil Consumption Replace
NHTSA lists 156 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volvo S60?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 2. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (100%), oil leak or consumption (100%), loss of power / limp mode (50%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Volvo S60?
NHTSA lists 156 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Volvo S60 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.