Volvo Engines To Avoid If You Value Performance & Longevity!
I strongly believe that anyone who is looking to buy a used car or wants to know more about car reliability should be well aware of which engines have had problems in the past.
Volvo has promised some of the best vehicles in the market no doubt, and they’ve made some great engines as well. Then again, they’ve had a few that weren’t as successful and that’s what I’ll be talking about today. Some Volvo engines to avoid if you are someone who wants to save a lot of trouble and money.
To give you a brief idea, I would suggest avoiding Volvo engines prone to overheating, excessive oil consumption, and transmission failures. These issues are more found in 2001 V70, 2005 XC90, early S60 models, XC60, and specific XC90 iterations like the 2016 model.
Let’s talk more about this below!
More Insights On Volvo Engines To Avoid
Why should you even consider the engine as an important deciding factor though for judging any Volvo vehicle as a whole?
Look, you cannot deny the importance of engine quality in the overall driving performance no matter from which brand it comes. You must pay close attention to this factor and ensure you are choosing a Volvo that has the best potential of running smoothly.
In fact, do you know what is the most common problem with Volvos? Engine overheating! I’ve discussed this as a significant problem for d16 engines in Volvo earlier in a guide.
Engine overheating is one of the most common problems in Volvos. But I’m not saying this issue will absolutely break the bank. If you are good at proper preventative maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs.
Taking Volvo’s “book time for maintenance” reminder seriously can help a lot in avoiding engine related issues, by the way.
In fact, I’m on the same page as BurtBrothers about the importance of connecting engine performance with maintenance. You see, beyond just having a powerful engine, it’s quite important to maintain the overall health for prime functionality and less problems.
And one can truly ensure that by putting some effort into understanding the basic engine mechanisms. This also needs responsible use of quality synthetic lubricants, sticking to good compression, and having a proper ignition system.
Besides, installing a cold air intake system, lightening the overall vehicle’s load, using suitable fluids, and similar practices play crucial roles.
All of these efforts together sort of guarantee a smoother, more powerful, and desired driving experience. While at the same time, persisting the engine’s lifespan.
But, if you go to the point where an engine completely comes off, you cannot avoid the big expense that comes with a whole engine replacement. So, it’s crucial you figure out what Volvos to stay away from that has engine issues.
1. 2001 V70 and 2005 XC90
Anyone eyeing a 2001 V70 or a 2005 XC90 should be careful. These have a bit of a reputation for their transmission troubles. And so, I’d strongly recommend considering other options.
There were many reports from those who’ve owned these two, highlighting how the transmission starts acting up and, eventually, giving out altogether.
Keep in mind, this is not a minor problem. But something that could leave you stuck on the roadside waiting for a tow truck.
And if we go towards the repair bills – there’s bad news. The overall repair cost can skyrocket, sometimes hitting a huge $4,000.
So be aware of these issues that can turn owning one of these models into a real headache.
2. The Early S60 Models
With most of the early S60 models, there’s a word of caution you must take into account. Basically, these models from Volvo are known for excessive oil consumption.
In fact, there were many past owners who have shared their concern with how annoying they find the vehicle gulping down oil, at a quite alarming rate. And this happens more often right before it’s time for the next scheduled oil change.
This issue may not necessarily but most probably point to deeper problems. My best guess would be a damaged head gasket or clogged oil filters. Many owners fail to address this in time.
No doubt then it can lead to quite severe engine damage. And believe me when I say that replacing an engine is not only a huge hassle but also a big hit to your wallet.
So given these risks, I’d recommend avoiding the early S60 models and excuse yourself from the potential headaches.
3. XC60
The XC60 is another one to watch out for. And I would pinpoint it particularly because of the insistent issues with the engine cooling fan.
This fan is a critical component indeed. As it helps to maintain the optimal temperature for the engines to work effortlessly. But when the component fails, the engine will be affected the most. Usually, it overheats and this can lead to quite significant and expensive damage.
What’s worse is that the overheating issue isn’t just a rare occurrence. A lot of XC60 owners have experienced this particular problem. And since overheating is one of the main problems that can turn into long-term irreversible damage, it’s a model I’d suggest avoiding.
4. The 2004, 2005, and 2016 XC90
These specific XC90 models come with a track record of reliability issues. And it can make your overall ownership feel like a burden more than enjoyable. Especially the 2016 model really rings a danger bell.
It’s one of the major concerns would be the Auto Brake System. Out of nowhere, you find the element activating.
And it happens quite unexpectedly while driving. Now this could seem like just a minor inconvenience for those who don’t mind it.
Though, for newbie drivers or those who spend less time driving, this can be downright dangerous. Especially for all those rides where you are driving at quite higher speeds.
Another part to mention would be the infotainment system in these models. Users have complained about the frequent glitches and reboots that these models come across.
In fact, some owners have witnessed such problems as early as 900 miles in. No doubt this can feel incredibly frustrating. And, not to mention how it puts a damper on the overall driving experience.
5. The General XC90 Models
Apart from the specific years I’ve mentioned in the earlier segment, in general, XC90 models can have certain common problems but extensively. For example, the excessive tire wear that xc90 models experience.
Now it’s possible the problem occurs despite you being almost regular with tire maintenance. And at that point, things could be concerning.
Especially if you consider the fact that such premature tire wear impacts the vehicle’s overall fuel efficiency. Not to mention the negative effects on the vehicle handling and driving safety.
This can get dangerous as it puts the occupants at a higher risk of accidents. Even when it does not go that far, there’s still a headache of dealing with increased maintenance costs over time.
6. 2015.5-2016 Drive-E/VEP1 Engines
These engines are quite infamous for their excessive oil consumption nature. After a certain period of usage, you may experience needing more frequent oil changes due to how fast the engines run out of oil.
It’s bad news for fuel efficiency as the oil cost will be quite high and perhaps somewhat heavy for users.
There’s also a significant chance of discovering potential engine damage due to the uneven oil level if you fail to monitor it closely.
You should check if the vehicle has documented proof of warranty repairs that address this problem specifically. Especially services for changing pistons and rings. Otherwise, it’s best to skip the engines.
- 2022 and Newer B5/B6 with VEP3 Engines
While there’s not much complaint about these engines, I’ve still found some owners having some reliability concerns. And, that’s why many fear certain mechanical failures or electronic problems to happen frequently with these engines.
By the way, there are some teething issues with the newer engines according to a few reports. I would say, anyone looking for long-year reliability, try to avoid these engines in Volvo.
7. 2016 T6 AWD
Moving onto the 2016 T6 AWD, the most common problem that I noted with this one is regarding supercharger failure. Basically, what happens is that the supercharger in these engines starts showing signs of failure quite early.
An owner even shared how the supercharger was damaged right before the end of the 8-year mark. This made the Volvo face serious starting issues.
Unfortunately, such errors can soon sum up to a repair cost of around $4,000. That’s quite high! Looking at the failing superchargers issue, just be aware these models could turn out as a riskier choice.
8. The 2013-2016 Petrol Engines
For the 2013-2016 petrol engines, many have shared concerns of damaged oil control rings. Now if you don’t know, these rings are significantly responsible for scraping excess oil off the cylinder walls.
With failing or damaged rings, the vehicle will start showing high oil consumption. With delayed addressing of the issue, you can even find yourself paying a high price for the engine damage.
Instead, you can opt for the engines that have had their oil control rings updated with thicker ones post-2016. These are more reliable.
10. The T5 Engines
Let’s talk about the T5 engines, specifically the ones that were produced until around 2015. So basically, the transmissions used here are called “powershift.” Some users have reported issues with the transmission.
It’s fairly true that the engine itself is quite reliable and there’s not much to complain about how well it performs. Since it depends on the powershift transmission for a lot of reasons, there are still concerns to address.
Many owners and some mechanics noticed frequent problems with these engines such as jerky shifting, gear shift being stuck, and premature wear.
So, if you want to keep yourself out of such transmission problems, consider avoiding the T5 engine model.
Instead, you can go for the models that were introduced later by Volvo with the Drive-E version. These ones have a more reliable and improved 8-speed automatic transmission.
Wrapping Up
The list of Volvo engines to avoid will continue as more users and owners share their experiences and insights in the future. I am planning to keep you updated about it.
For now, this list should be enough to have an idea of the current market of Volvo vehicles that come with little problematic engine side.
Now, does this mean the mentioned ones are absolutely good for nothing? Not really. You have to understand that it’s also possible you get your hands on the best-selling model appreciated by everyone but still get a worst individual experience with it.
So do consider the engine as one of the most significant factors, but don’t simply rely on it alone. Along with the engine, you should also consider checking maintenance history, overall condition, mileage, and any potential recalls.
I would strongly suggest a deep inspection by a trusted mechanic as that can provide you with the best insights before making your decision on a used vehicle.
I’ll leave you here for today, see you soon in my next piece. Take Care!
