2021 Volvo XC90 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2021 Volvo XC90, and owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 2021 Volvo XC90
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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Traction battery (electrical system) and software (electrical system)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to…
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Critical fasteners (seat belts)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at…
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Steering
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this…
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Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes) and service brakes, hydraulic
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 S90L, 2020-2021 XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hydraulic unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is…
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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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Air bag/restraint control module (air bags) and 2 other components
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 Volvo V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. The Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control unit may not have been properly attached to the car body and may detach during a crash.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the SRS control unit mounting screws, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service…
38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Volvo XC90 have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 30,233 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 19 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“This is 2021 volvo xc90 purchased new in 2021. A few weeks ago, my wife asked me to look at the middle row seatbelt as it wouldnt buckle. I could see that it was broken. I checked the seatbelt next to”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Seat belts
“My 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge (plug-in hybrid) has been at Volvo Cars Dublin, Dublin CA since June 15, 2026 for a failed high-voltage battery cell module requiring replacement. The replacement part is o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 25, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Volvo XC90 (XC90 AWD, XC90 AWD PHEV, XC90 FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–26 / 28–30 |
| Fuel | Premium, Premium and Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare Volvo XC90 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo XC90 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Volvo XC90 | 5 | 93 |
| 2004 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 462 |
| 2005 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 223 |
| 2006 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 53 |
| 2007 Volvo XC90 | 2 | 38 |
| 2008 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 29 |
| 2009 Volvo XC90 | 1 | 7 |
| 2010 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 12 |
| 2011 Volvo XC90 | 1 | 19 |
| 2012 Volvo XC90 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 Volvo XC90 | 0 | 11 |
| 2014 Volvo XC90 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 Volvo XC90 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 Volvo XC90 | 8 | 197 |
| 2017 Volvo XC90 | 7 | 80 |
| 2018 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 51 |
| 2019 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 42 |
| 2020 Volvo XC90 | 7 | 32 |
| 2021 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 38 |
| 2022 Volvo XC90 | 4 | 29 |
| 2023 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 40 |
| 2024 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 36 |
| 2025 Volvo XC90 | 2 | 29 |
Checking a specific 2021 Volvo XC90
How do I know if my 2021 Volvo XC90 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 2021 Volvo XC90; 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 21V001000).
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
- S601,266 complaints
- S80954 complaints
- V70933 complaints
- XC60651 complaints
- S70593 complaints
- 850569 complaints
- S40491 complaints
- XC70417 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.