2021 Volvo XC40 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2021 Volvo XC40, and owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2021 Volvo XC40
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Software (back over prevention)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
Remedy: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at…
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Software (back over prevention)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor…
Remedy: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552.…
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Frame and members (structure) and engine
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2021 XC40 BEV vehicles. A bolt that secures the cross-member bracket for the electrical motor in the engine compartment may be loose or missing.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cross-member bracket and install new bracket bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-888-458-1552.…
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Retractor (seat belts) and seat belts
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 XC40, XC 40 Recharge, V60CC, V90, V90CC, XC90, and 2021-2022 V60, XC60, S60 vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo…
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Software (electrical system)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2022 XC40 Recharge vehicles. The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) microprocessor may reset and cause the high voltage system to disconnect.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this…
52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Volvo XC40 have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 17,263 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 15 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle is starting up in the middle of the night. Not plugged in. Not updating! Has occurred at least twice that I know of. Checking the app shows no remote start. No activity! I am concerned about f”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 15, 2026 · Unknown or other
“I own a 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge (pure electric). At 49,030 miles, while slowly driving in a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly began shuddering and jerking as if driving over rumble strips. A warning”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 3, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Volvo XC40 (XC40 AWD, XC40 AWD BEV, XC40 FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–79 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–85 / 30–72 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1); Automatic (S8) |
Compare Volvo XC40 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo XC40 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Volvo XC40 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 Volvo XC40 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Volvo XC40 | 4 | 30 |
| 2020 Volvo XC40 | 1 | 12 |
| 2021 Volvo XC40 | 5 | 52 |
| 2022 Volvo XC40 | 3 | 37 |
| 2023 Volvo XC40 | 4 | 47 |
| 2024 Volvo XC40 | 4 | 28 |
| 2025 Volvo XC40 | 2 | 11 |
Checking a specific 2021 Volvo XC40
How do I know if my 2021 Volvo XC40 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2021 Volvo XC40; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V109000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volvo models
- XC901,528 complaints
- S601,266 complaints
- S80954 complaints
- V70933 complaints
- XC60651 complaints
- S70593 complaints
- 850569 complaints
- S40491 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.