Most common 2021 Volvo XC60 problems
Share of the 49 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo XC60 complaints by model year
Best XC60 years: 2014, 2017, 2012. Years to avoid: 2022, 2023, 2025, 2024, 2021. Compare all years →
2021 Volvo XC60 recalls (5)
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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.
Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor
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.
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.
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2021 Volvo XC60:
Pedestrian alert sounds
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.
What 2021 Volvo XC60 owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC60. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder, and the vehicle continuously turned on and off independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the auxiliary battery power was low and that the vehicle needed a software update. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 18,000.
The car started to move and accelerate with brake pressed. Accident prevention system did not activate itself. It did not display any warnings as it typically do during parking and being close to other cars. The car caused an accident with mild injuries to the driver of the other car, but could have hit a pedestrian or go to the intersection and involved with an accident with a car moving perpendicularly at a higher speed. I am waiting for an investigator from Volvo and Travelers Insurance. Prior to the accident the electronic display of the car started to malfunction. I have a video of the whole accident , but it is in mp4 format and thus i could not upload it. The dashboard camera's microphone picked some electromagnetic interference that increased as we got closer to the accident. Description of the accident: We pulled to a red light behind another car. …
Driver assistance
The car started to move and accelerate with brake pressed. Accident prevention system did not activate itself. It did not display any warnings as it typically do during parking and being close to other cars. The car caused an accident with mild injuries to the driver of the other car, but could have hit a pedestrian or go to the intersection and involved with an accident with a car moving perpendicularly at a higher speed. I am waiting for an investigator from Volvo and Travelers Insurance. Prior to the accident the electronic display of the car started to malfunction. I have a video of the whole accident , but it is in mp4 format and thus i could not upload it. The dashboard camera's microphone picked some electromagnetic interference that increased as we got closer to the accident. Description of the accident: We pulled to a red light behind another car. …
The BLIS warning light has been malfunctioning and only displaying intermittently for several weeks. We were traveling from Florida to Massachusetts when we discovered the problem. We made arrangements for the car to be serviced, but the dealer informed us they did not observe the issue during their test drive and suggested we check the manual to read about BLIS limitations. We did that, but none of the situations applies in our case. The dealer did inform us that they downloaded and reinstalled the appropriate software, however the problem has not been resolved. The passenger side indicator works about 40% of the time and the driver side indicator works about 50% of the time. …
Brakes
The contact owned a 2021 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly began to accelerate and the brakes failed to stop. The vehicle crashed into a nearby fence causing the vehicle to flip. The air bags did deploy. The contact received injuries to their right shoulder and left knee. Medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and had not been deemed totaled as of yet however, damage to the vehicle would be considered unrepairable. The dealer was informed of the incident however they were unable to assist. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
6/8/23: Vehicle in shop for 30K warranty service. Front brake pads flagged yellow for wear. Recommendation they be addressed next visit at 40K miles. By 35K, Brake pedal was vibrating and steering wheel shaking upon moderate braking. Made appt. With local dealer which required over a month wait. 1/5/24: Dealer confirmed problem. Despite their own Technical Service Bulletin [redacted], dated [redacted], which recommended warranty replacement of brake pads, the service writer, Joe Barber at Volvo of St. Louis, 7700 Manchester Rd. refused to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Instead, he quoted me a complete front brake job, to include rotors and pads for $920. I declined. With over 50 years of driving experience, not once have I owned a vehicle with brake/rotor failure with so few actual miles driven (mostly highway). Dealer claims this is normal for Volvo cars. …
2021 Volvo XC60 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo supercharged plug-in hybrid | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 26 / 28 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo supercharged | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Volvo XC60 a good car?
Based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 XC60 rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the XC60 at the same age. It is one of the XC60 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Volvo XC60?
The electrical system — 14 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the driver assistance (13) and brakes (9).
How many recalls does the 2021 Volvo XC60 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2021 Volvo XC60, the most recent from March 24, 2025 (traction battery). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo XC60?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2017 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2023, 2025, 2024 and 2021. See the full Volvo XC60 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Volvo XC60 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 18,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.