2021 Volvo XC60 problems & reliability
46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Volvo XC60, alongside 5 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
4 complaints report injuries (4 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2021 Volvo XC60 vehicles were involved in 7 fatal crashes with 2 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System → | 13 | 28% |
| Unknown / Other | 11 | 24% |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 20% |
| Lane Departure | 7 | 15% |
| Steering | 7 | 15% |
| Engine | 6 | 13% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 13% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 11% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 17 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“My SUV has a had the check engine light on from a failed battery cell for my 2021 grey Volvo XC60 recharge (VIN [XXX]). I have been without the electric functionality (to charge the hybrid car or use electric power) since mid December and waiting on a warranty part since Dec. 23, 2025. I have been told April 2026 and…”
Electrical System · filed Aug 12, 2026
“After backing up out of a parking space, the side mirror on the drivers side moves to an unpredictable position and does not return to its original position. This is potentially dangerous because the driver is not aware of this change in position, and when changing lanes may rely on mirror that is in a faulty…”
Unknown / Other · filed Jul 31, 2026
“The entire right ride of the car just stopped working. Back right door became permanently locked and could not open from outside or inside. When hitting lock/unlock buttons on key fob i) front passenger door would not lock/unlock and ii) right side mirror would not fold in/out. Blind spot monitor and TPMS said they…”
Lane Departure · filed Jul 1, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds
Defect Petition DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
Technical service bulletins
223 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2021 Volvo XC60. The 10 most recent:
This is a TJ - text only no attachments - If customer complains of a headlamp error message in DIM, in combination with any of the DTCs stated below, follow advice under "Service".
37631.3.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 28, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 1 .jpg attachment - If remote control key is not detected by the car and shows message in DIM "Car key not found" or if functions such as lock/unlock are not working, please follow…
33031.6.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 23, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. If the sound corresponds to attached sound file, change front drive shafts to the below part numbers.
36496.10.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 7, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test. If the result is not ok (air leak), it is ok to replace the headlamp
34521.11.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 7, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Panoramic sunroof, sealing strip has a gap
35503.4.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 6, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not…
35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 23, 2026
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior…
37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 7, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test. If the result is not ok (air leak), it is ok to replace the headlamp
34521.10.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 21, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: If a vehicle with panorama roof shows symptom of a rattling noise when opening, follow the description under Service. If the analysis shows that the rattling noise comes from the roller…
33183.9.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 7, 2026
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 1 jpg and 1 mp4 file -- If there is a strange chafing or creaking noise when turning the steering wheel, follow the advice under Service.
35842 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 13, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2021 Volvo XC60 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2021 Volvo XC60?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.