VolvoXC702016Overview/volvo/xc70/2016/base/

2016 Volvo XC70

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 XC70.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2016 Volvo XC70 is a midsize SUV that blends rugged capability with a refined interior, powered by an automatic (S6) transmission that delivers smooth shifts. Its EPA‑rated fuel economy of 19/26/21 mpg balances utility with efficiency, while the model’s modest 7 owner complaints—primarily centered on the engine—highlight its overall dependability. With only two recalls that year, the XC70 sits near the bottom of Volvo’s complaint history, a stark contrast to the peak of 106 complaints in 2004, underscoring a steady improvement in reliability over the decade.

Model year201620152014201320122011201020092008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy19/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 800 CCA battery, OE oil filter 8642423. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 800 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0; OPTIONAL: (7.0, 7.5 OR 8.0) 7.5 OR 8.0, 8.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter8642423 alt 32140029
Engine air filter31370161 alt 30757155
Battery30772236 alt 31296299
Front wiper blades32341318
Thermostat31368063 alt 31686560
Cabin air filter31390880 alt 31449209

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.6 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height63 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4012 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the XC70 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2009 T6 Premium
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2009T6 Premium 3.0L Turbo I-66.60 sec15.10 sec281 hpAWD
20083.2 3.2L I-68.90 sec16.70 sec235 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine Volvo part number 1161620 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 28.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-4-5-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.0-7.5
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilVolvo part number 1161620
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.6 qt
Engine CoolantVolvo coolant anti-freeze
Engine Coolant Capacity8.8 qt
Engine CoolantUse genuine Volvo coolant/antifreeze

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug28.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts60.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug27.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-4-5-3
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance350 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.73 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.20 lbs
Oil TypeVolvo part No. 1161 627-3
Oil Capacity6.08 oz
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca

Service checks

Intake Valve Lash0.004 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.019 in
Intake Valve Lash0.004 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.016 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 21; Rear: 26 /; Front: 21; Rear: 26
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 148; Rear: 81 /; Front: 148; Rear: 81
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementRear: w/17" disc: .354
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.023; Rear: 16
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.043; Rear: 16
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0016; Rear: .003

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
126.0.0 ft. lbs., 90
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
126.0.0 ft. lbs., 90
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse any bolts. Coat new bolts with specified engine oil.

133 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
2120 degrees120 degrees
3120 degrees120 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 70,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Foglamp (adjust alignment) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
Every 40,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (leak inspection) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 50,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 70,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 150,000 miTiming Belt Tensioner (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 model year represents the culmination of a steady reliability improvement arc for this XC70 generation, with only 7 complaints—near the series low of 2 recorded in 2014 and comparable to 2015’s 6—compared to the triple-digit spike seen in 2004 and elevated counts in earlier years. While complaints remained minimal, technical service bulletins peaked at 334 for 2016, up from 312 in 2015 and 253 in 2014, indicating continued manufacturer support despite the model's age. The two recalls and zero investigations align with the reduced recall frequency observed in the 2012-2016 period compared to earlier years like 2008 which saw 8 recalls. Reported issues for 2016 were distributed across engine, seat belts, electrical, and visibility systems with no crash or fire complaints recorded, though the data does not specify root causes for these low-incidence reports. Given its position at the end of the production run with minimal owner complaints and robust technical support documentation, 2016 stands as a favorable year to purchase within this generation.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
334
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Engine2
Seat Belts1
Electrical System1
Visibility/Wiper1
Power Train1
Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V378000Seat Belts:FrontReported 30/06/2020

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross… Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service…

15V555000Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit BreakersReported 02/09/2015

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using… Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 334 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
32010.3.02026-06-10Unknown Or OtherThis is a Technical Journal: Plus 2 attachments 1- TJI-497587-1 and 1 MP4 Speaker Grill…
35526.1.82026-04-23EngineThis is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform…
37809.1.12026-04-07Unknown Or OtherThis is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to…
375362025-12-11Unknown Or OtherThis is a TJ text, only no attachments - If the Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) does…
192452025-12-06Unknown Or OtherThis is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific XC70. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 XC70 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the XC70 get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.