CSR

Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2021 Volvo XC90

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

32

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2021 Volvo XC90 have filed 32 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2020 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 8 of them (25%). The typical failure was reported at 2,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

25V179000 · March 24, 2025

The defect
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.
The risk
A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
The 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 monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 7,483 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

23V827000 · December 7, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
The 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 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 2,911 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING

23V001000 · January 5, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.
The 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 recall is R10213.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 74 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

21V716000 · September 15, 2021

The defect
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.
The risk
Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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 R10120.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 9 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

21V682000 · September 1, 2021

The defect
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 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The 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 Car's number for this recall is R10111.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 19,149 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

21V001000 · January 7, 2021

The defect
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.
The risk
A detached SRS control unit can decrease the performance of occupant protection systems such as air bags, seat belts, and high voltage battery disconnect, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The 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 at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10068.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 2,883 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 32.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 25%
ENGINE 7 22%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 22%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 16%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 9%
POWER TRAIN 3 9%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 6%
SEAT BELTS 2 6%
STEERING 2 6%
AIR BAGS 1 3%
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 13.

2020 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

Title: Possible Defect – Uneven Airbag Deployment Description: On July 20, 2025, around 5:30 PM, i was driving a 2021 Volvo XC90 on a main road when another vehicle suddenly entered from the right side without stopping at a stop sign. I was unable to avoid a collision and my vehicle T-boned the other car (front impact on my vehicle). During the crash, I believe the front airbag system did not deploy properly or deployed unevenly. I felt like the left side of the airbag (from the steering wheel) was full of air but not the right side (that side was flat when it deployed), and I believe I hit my head on the steering wheel. I experienced severe injuries to my head, face, and right eye,

NHTSA complaint 11675796, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · towed

Unintentional acceleration.First, I was in line at car wash proceeding slowly ahead as directed in line. Foot on accelerator lightly moving, when car surged rapidly hitting back end of Tesla about 6-8 ft ahead (2/26/26 12:30pm) Impact strong enough to push Tesla into truck hitch damaging it front of it as well. Applied brake, but impact was too rapid. Second incident with my Volvo was a month later(3/22/26 about 10:30 am) and my husband was driving. . Made right turn on green light and started to accelerate when it revived and surged forward until applied brake. Dealer could not replicate. No codes but repair shop had to recalibrate after 1st incident and may have lost code on 1st

NHTSA complaint 11728623, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

crash

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that upon shifting to Drive(D) while the vehicle was on an incline, the vehicle rolled back before moving forward as intended. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring, causing the vehicle to hit a garage door and a brick mailbox on two different occasions. The contact stated that the tailgate was opened and sustained a dent when the vehicle hit the garage door. The contact stated that upon shifting to Reverse(R) on a decline, the vehicle rolled forward before reversing as intended. The contact stated that the failure had caused the vehicle to hit two pedestrians. There were no reported injuries. No police report was

NHTSA complaint 11724066, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS
I am submitting this complaint regarding serious safety concerns with my Volvo vehicle that may affect the safety of my family, especially young children. 1. Second-Row Center Seat Integrated Booster Seat Belt Failure The integrated booster seat belt in the second-row center seat is not functioning properly. The seat belt mechanism appears defective and does not secure the child as intended. This presents a significant safety risk. In the event of sudden braking or an emergency stop, a child could be thrown forward due to the seat belt’s failure to restrain the occupant correctly. This defect creates a serious risk of injury and should be investigated immediately. 2. Recurring Check Engine

NHTSA complaint 11742208, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
While driving, I experienced a sudden loss of braking assist with no warning. The brake pedal became extremely hard to press, accompanied by a hissing/air sound. Despite applying full pressure, the vehicle did not slow as expected and continued moving. At one point, after stopping, the vehicle began to move forward again while my foot remained firmly on the brake. The issue occurred immediately upon or shortly after starting the vehicle, with no prior warning indicators. This created a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA complaint 11732913. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a failure of the fuel pump system in my Volvo vehicle, which currently has approximately 60,000 miles. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealership, which diagnosed the fuel pump as defective and requiring replacement. This appears to be a premature failure given the mileage and proper maintenance of the vehicle. This failure presents a serious safety risk. A faulty fuel pump can cause the vehicle to stall unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. Loss of engine power without warning places not only the driver and passengers at risk, but

NHTSA complaint 11726315, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS
I drove the car (2021 Volvo XC 90) without incident on Sunday March 8, 2026 and at the end of the day parked the car in my garage. Monday morning, I came out to use the car and found that the seat back on the driver’s side had folded all the way forward and was immovable in a position that was unsafe to drive. Had the seat spontaneously folded all the way forward while I was driving, it would have pitched my body into the steering wheel and the results could have been catastrophic. At the time of the incident my car was approximately four years and seven months old from date of purchase with just 30,315 miles on it. Volvo reported that the seat-back motor had failed and needed to be

NHTSA complaint 11725292, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle was recalled for a faulty battery module. I turned the car into the dealer (Palo Alto Volvo in Palo Alto, Ca) on December 18 and the dealer has not been able to provide any ETA on repairs.

NHTSA complaint 11725373. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volvo XC90

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 27 2
2024 34 3
2023 39 6
2022 29 4
2020 29 7
2019 40 6
2018 47 3
2017 75 7
2016 197 8
2011 19 1
2010 12 3

Other 2021 Volvo models

Every Volvo on this site — 70 vehicles, 319 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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