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2021 Volvo XC90 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2021 Volvo XC90 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 19owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 11%fail the UK MOT
19 complaints, against an average of 43 for the other 13 Volvo XC90 model years.
Every Volvo XC90 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2021 Volvo XC90?
The components named most often in the 19 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Fault codes 2021 Volvo XC90 owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2021 Volvo XC90 been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Electric: Control Module: Software Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "B" mode or "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake function.
Risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10329.
Is the 2021 Volvo XC90 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAFront seat belts
Risk: On affected vehicles the front left seat bolts may not have been torqued according to specification which could reduce the occupant protection in an impact.
Fix: Re-torque front seat bolts.
UK DVSABCM2 SW – Safety Notice
Risk: Affected vehicles may experience a temporary loss of braking functionality after coasting downhill with ‘B’ mode selected or when using One Pedal Drive. This could potentially lead to a collision.
Fix: Install modified software via an Over the Air (OTA) update.
UK DVSASPA1 Cell Modules
Risk: On affected vehicles the High Voltage (HV) Battery may have a manufacturing defect which could cause the battery cells to overheat when the HV Battery is fully charged. In a worst-case scenario there is a risk of fire when the vehicle is parked up with a fully charged HV Battery.
Fix: Check and replace the HV Battery if necessary and install modified software.
UK DVSABCM2 – Push Road
Risk: The rod connecting the brake pedal to the brake booster may not have been assembled correctly. The final torque might not be according to manufacturing specification due to deviations in the equipment. If the rod does disconnect the mechanical connection between brake pedal and brake booster cannot be guaranteed. In the worst-case scenario if the rod disconnects the brake pedal function cannot be guaranteed
Fix: A Volvo retailer will check and if necessary tighten the rod to correct specification.
UK DVSAThe anchorage bolts for the second-row seat belts and seat belt buckles may not have been correctly secured.The anchorage bolts for the second-row seat belts and seat belt buckles may not have been correctly secured. In a worst-case scenario this may not provide sufficient protection in the event of a collision.
Risk: The anchorage bolts for the second-row seat belts and seat belt buckles may not have been correctly secured. In a worst-case scenario this may not provide sufficient protection in the event of a collision
Fix: Inspect and re-install.
UK DVSAA software error may prevent the engine control module from starting the engine
Risk: The Engine Control Module (ECM) may prevent the combustion engine from starting.
Fix: Download updated software.
UK DVSAPotentially insufficient or missing welding connection in the hydraulic unit of the brake system
Risk: There may be an insufficient or missing welding connection in the Hydraulic Unit of the Brake System.
Fix: Replace the Hydraulic Unit.
UK DVSAVehicles may have the supplementary restraint system control unit incorrectly tightened to the car body
Risk: Vehicles may have the Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control unit incorrectly tightened to the car body.
Fix: Inspect and tighten the SRS control unit.
EU Safety GateThe nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are above the regulatory limits.Excessive NOx emissions pose a risk to the environment.
Measures: Type of economic operator to whom the measure(s) were ordered: Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe second row seat belt buckle may have not been tightened to the correct torque.As a result, the seat belt may not provide sufficient protection for the second row passengers in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 07/12/2023
EU Safety GateDue to a manufacturing defect, there may be a loose item within the steering gear.This can cause the steering to lock while driving, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 29/12/2022
EU Safety GateThere is a risk of turbo charger breakdown, which could damage engine parts and lead to stalling.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe welding connection between the motor’s rotor shaft and the magnet package in the hydraulic unit of the brake system may be partially…The welding connection between the motor’s rotor shaft and the magnet package in the hydraulic unit of the brake system may be partially or fully missing.As a result, the brake boost, the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the electronic stability control (ESC) could be disabled, resulting in less deceleration than normal, leading to increased risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe 15A fuse to the low-pressure fuel pump may blow.As a result, the engine could stall and not be able start, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateWhen liquid/droplets are present on the rear seat control display, there´s a risk that the signal to the display is maintained and…When liquid/droplets are present on the rear seat control display, there´s a risk that the signal to the display is maintained and perceived by the system as a “constant” touch. As a result, the front seat could be inadvertently moved until its end position, increasing the risk of injury.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 29/04/2021
EU Safety GateThe control unit on the SRS (Supplementary Restraint System) may not be attached to the car body according to the specifications.As a result, the occupant protection function of the SRS could be impaired, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 05/01/2021
How often does the 2021 Volvo XC90 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2021, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2021 Volvo XC90 owners report?
12 of the 19 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The vehicle’s Start/Stop system began displaying warning messages and malfunctioning prior to the expiration of the factory warranty. The issue first appeared before 50,000 miles and reappeared at 49,997 miles, when a warning was displayed on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. A diagnostic review confirmed the need to replace the Start/Stop auxiliary battery and repair the Park Assist system. A diagnostic fee was charged, and both system failures were documented. The Start/Stop system’s failure raises a potential safety concern because the vehicle may…
I plugged my usb to usb-c charging cable into my iphone 20 seconds after starting the vehicle. I proceeded to exit my driveway when the infotainment screen went completely blank and the same thing to the driver's display 10 seconds later. I drove to the end of my street to a stop light where the car completely shut off and automatically restarted within a few seconds. I was traveling with my wife and [XXX] daughter. I have yet to reproduce the problem but have an appointment scheduled with the dealership later this week. Zero warnings or messages were present before, during or after the…
The brakes did not work when the automatic emergency braking turned on. When I pressed the brakes all the way down, the brakes didn’t respond because it was still in automatic mode. I was able to swerve into the next lane to not hit the vehicle in front of me. The automatic emergency braking also turned on when I was reversing from a parked location when there was a vehicle waiting to park behind me and my vehicle stoped and didn’t come off of brake/park mode. I had to turn my vehicle on and off again to get it to move again. I have taken my vehicle in twice for shaking. My back rotors were…
Vehicle steer violently on pilot assist and powertrain disabled, not allowing us to steer the wheel on a highway. (Last year) We were lucky no other cars were nearby, needed a reboot for the wheels to work again. Dealership isn’t sure what happened. Now we have a hybrid system failure which a lot of cars with the same model Xc90 T8 is having with the hybrid system. Please investigate into this
The infotainment system has locked up and has shut completely off while driving. When it shuts down (screen goes black) or glitches, the car actually loses power. Luckily it powered right back on but it was scary and could happen again and be much worse. The screen/ infotainment system has had this issue for awhile. We’ve even told Volvo of Tulsa about it when it was in for service but they said they couldn’t do anything about it because they couldn’t reproduce the issue. We have also had the brakes and rotors replaced twice at the dealership because they seem to be lemons or faulty. We are…
On two separate occasions, while driving car on highway at high speed, the car has gone into a special shutdown mode, where a turtle icon lights up on the dash and the car begins to shut itself down rapidly, limiting maximum speed of vehicle to 35mph. There is no warning or advanced alert. Suddenly the car reduces speed and feels like it is dead, and the systems begin to alert you that they are going into a reduced function mode. This was extremely scary thing to happen at highway speeds with flowing traffic. I had to crawl to side of rose at very low speeds. I could have been injured. I took…
Vehicle is lurching on slow acceleration in Hybrid Mode. For example, lurching occurs when pulling away from a stop sign, pulling out into traffic, pulling into a parking spot. Issue started beginning of January 2023. In February Fields Volvo Service diagnosed issue as a software problem (Code IEM-P287100) and that Volvo hasn't written the software yet. Fields Volvo Service said software update should be available in Quarter 2. Advised that I do not drive my car in Hybrid Mode. I own a hybrid vehicle that I have been told not to drive in Hybrid. Unfortunately, Hybrid is the default mode so…
My Xc90 is shuttering at interstate speeds as well as below. When I purchased, they had to machine the rotors and said they balanced the front tires. It did not help much. The brakes shake less. I'm sure the entire rotors are warped. All this with 12k miles on the vehicle.
Check engine light illuminated at 11,000 miles. Diagnostics showed a software update was needed but the software update did not fix the problem. Volvo corporate said the IEM module needed to be replaced. The IEM module controls the rear axle / propulsion and this is a serious safety issue because sudden loss of propulsion while driving at high speeds increases risk of having an accident. After replacing the IEM module, the mechanic cleared the DTC codes, test drove the car, and re-ran the DTC - and the code indicating a software update was still needed was present. Also the hybrid battery…
VEHICLE IN MOTION WITH TURN SIGNAL ON - A LOUD POP FROM THE SPEAKERS IS HEARD - THEN ALL AUDIO IN THE VEHICLE IS SILENCED. AFTER THIS SITUATION, NO AUDIO WORKS FROM EITHER RADIO, TURN SIGNALS, PARKING SENSORS, LANE KEEPING BEEP, ETC. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE DOWN FOR ~15 MINUTES AND RESTARTING THE PROBLEM WILL CLEAR. BECAUSE OF IT'S INTERMITTENT NATURE, DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE - BUT THIS PROBLEM IS IMPACTING MANY USERS - SEE THIS FORUM THREAD HTTPS://WWW.SWEDESPEED.COM/THREADS/SPEAKERS-CUT-OUT-WITH-A-POP-CAME-BACK-AFTER-VEHICLE-OFF-FOR-A-FEW-MINUTES.630447/PAGE-5 - THIS HAS SAFETY…
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGING VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT LEAST. 3 TIMES. RESULTING IN ABRUPT STOP IN MOVEING TRAFFIC! DEALER IN NO HURRY TO REPAIR SUGGESTING BRING BACK WHEN THEY ARE ABLE! AM NOTIFYING VOLVO, DEALER , THEY WILL ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR INJURY OR DEATH FOR THIS DEFECT AND LACK OF CONCERN IN REPAIRING ( TOLD A SOFTWARE PROBLEM , BUT ALSO TOLD CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO VIOLENT AND ABRUPT STOPS! VERY UNCOMFORTABLE ESPECIALLY SINCE REPAIR MGR IS SO ARROGANT!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY APPEARED VERY BLURRY AND DISTORTED CAUSING A VISIBILITY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. *LN*JB
2021 Volvo XC90: questions owners ask
Is the 2021 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volvo XC90; the most common categories were electrical system (7, 36.8%), service brakes (4, 21.1%), back over prevention (3, 15.8%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volvo XC90?
Across 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (36.8% of complaints), service brakes (21.1% of complaints), back over prevention (15.8% of complaints), engine (15.8% of complaints), forward collision avoidance (15.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2021 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2021 Volvo XC90; the most recent (campaign 25V392000, 2025-06-12) concerns Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Electric: Control Module: Software. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own XC90
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2021 only; combines NHTSA's entries for XC90 T5, XC90 T6, XC90 T8, XC90H and XC90PHEV. How these reports are made.