Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Volvo XC90 Reliability Report
The 2021 Volvo XC90 has good reliability, but owners report screens going black and sudden power loss while driving. Check recall records.
Recalls
5
Complaints
17
Complaint Rate
4.4per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$851
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,750–$3,150
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Rated good and above average for 2021 SUVs, with 17 complaints and 5 recalls, led by blackout screens, power loss and steering faults.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4)
- STEERING (2)
- SERVICE BRAKES (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is 1 year after the 2019 facelift refresh.
- Year 6 in the Second generation (2015) (2016–present).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 2nd generation XC90 (US).
What this means for buyers
Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.
2016: Second generation (2015) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is 1 year after the 2019 facelift refresh.
2023: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2025: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2021 Volvo XC90?
Good reliability puts this year above average among 2021 SUVs, though it lands in the middle of the nine scored XC90 years. Owners filed 17 complaints. The 2020 and 2022 rate about the same, so neither neighbor has a clear edge. Model-wide repair costs run a bit above the class.
The serious reports involve sudden loss of power or braking control. The center screen and driver display go black while driving, and some cars then lose power with no warning. Steering reports describe a turtle icon and a reduced mode limited to 35 mph at highway speed. One owner says the electric parking brake engaged hard at highway speed at least 3 times. Front rotor shudder is also reported. Federal recall records list 5 recalls, covering seat belts, steering, hydraulic service brakes and air bags.
Ask for proof that every recall was completed, plus dealer records of software updates and any screen, steering or parking brake visits.
Compared to the 2022 Volvo XC90, which scored the same. See also the 2020 Volvo XC90 for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Low major repair risk (11%)
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
Cons
- −Moderate recall count
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Center screen and driver display go black while driving (4 complaints)
- −SERVICE BRAKES: Car shudders when braking at highway speed and below, and owners blame warped... (2 complaints)
Compare 2021 Volvo XC90 With

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability: 65/100

2021 BMW X5
Reliability: 57/100

2021 Audi Q7
Reliability: 59/100

2021 Lexus RX
Reliability: 86/100

2021 Cadillac XT5
Reliability: 73/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 5 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4)
- STEERING (2)
Recall Overview
5
recalls on record
A moderate 5 recalls are on file for the 2021 Volvo XC90. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
4.4
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Volvo XC90 Recall Details
5 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Volvo XC90. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
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.
Consequence
An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
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.
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.
Consequence
A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
Consequence
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.
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.
Buying a used 2021 Volvo XC90? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Volvo XC90, and 5 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Volvo XC90 NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 19.1%
Safety Technologies
Volvo XC90Repair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$851
vs $807 avg for luxury midsize SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.6
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
11%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
22–25 MPG
Running cost: $3,600–$4,000/yr
Fuel + repair
19–21 city / 28–30 hwy MPG
Plug-in Hybrid
27 MPG
Running cost: $3,400/yr
Fuel + repair
26 city / 28 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XC90 FWD 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 | 30 | 25 | $2,750 |
| XC90 AWD 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,000 |
| XC90 AWD 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,150 |
Plug-in Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XC90 AWD PHEV 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 26 | 28 | 27 | $2,550 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Volvo XC90.
Drive at highway speed and watch for a turtle icon, reduced-power warnings, or a sudden loss of acceleration.
Ask for dealer records of software updates or repairs for hybrid, powertrain, infotainment, or parking brake faults.
Brake firmly from highway speed and feel for shudder or vibration through the pedal and body.
Check the service history for repeated rotor machining or brake and rotor replacements.
Plug a phone into the USB port while driving and watch whether the center screen or driver display goes blank.
Play audio, use the turn signals, and back toward an object to confirm chimes and parking-sensor alerts all sound.
Let Start/Stop shut the engine off at a light and confirm it restarts cleanly with no dashboard warnings.
Engage Pilot Assist on a quiet highway and confirm the steering stays smooth and fully responsive.
2021 Volvo XC90 Common Problems by Component
17 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4 complaintsThe center screen and driver display go black while driving. In some reports the car then loses power, or shuts off at a stop and restarts by itself. No warnings appear, and dealers often cannot reproduce the fault. Cars with the Bowers & Wilkins system can give a loud pop from the speakers and then lose all sound, including turn-signal clicks and parking-sensor alerts, until the car restarts. Dealers address the pop with a software update. One report describes a failed Start/Stop auxiliary battery and a Park Assist repair near 50,000 miles.
STEERING
2 complaintsDrive power cuts out at highway speed with no warning. A turtle icon lights up, the car enters a reduced-function mode that limits it to 35 mph, and it slows sharply in flowing traffic. Dealers trace some cases to software, and the fault can come back months later. In a separate report, the wheel jerks hard while Pilot Assist is on, the powertrain shuts down, and the driver cannot steer until the car reboots. That report also links the problem to hybrid system failures on the T8. Both patterns create a real risk of losing control at speed.
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsThe car shudders when braking at highway speed and below, and owners blame warped front rotors. One report puts the problem at 12k miles. Machining the rotors and balancing the tires helps only a little, and repeat brake and rotor replacements also show up in electrical complaints. The more serious report describes the electric parking brake engaging hard at highway speed at least 3 times, stopping the car abruptly in moving traffic. The dealer calls it a software problem but is slow to fix it.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaintHeat does not work in Hybrid Vehicle. Prevents windshield from being able to be defrosted in winter. Should be covered under warranty, however when I took it to the dealer they report that multiple Volvo have this problem and there is a part shortage. Because of this problem, the vehicle is unsafe to drive the vehicle in the winter because it won't generate enough heat to melt the snow and ice that hits the windshield.
WHEELS (1 complaints)
WHEELS
1 complaintThe 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 replaced 2 weeks ago but my vehicle still shakes. This car only has around 21,000 miles to have so many issues already with rotors and shaking.
Chest Clip (1 complaints)
Chest Clip
1 complaintThe harness can be loosened by lightly pulling on it without use of the harness release button. The harness is not holding the child in place and the car seat is therefore unsafe for use.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintVehicle 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 upon each start I have to manually change mode to AWD. There is also lurching in AWD on slow acceleration (not as bad as in Hybrid). On several occasions while driving in AWD the vehicle will spontaneously change the mode back to Hybrid resulting in decreased or no acceleration and lurching. This has happened several times in parking lots (minimal fear for safety) but also several times while pulling into traffic (e.g., making left hand turns which require acceleration) and acceralerating on onramps to the freeway (definite fear for safety). Problem has been experienced by sales staff at Fields Volvo because we are trying to get rid of the car because it is still under warranty (36,000 miles). Fields Volvo has not gotten back to us as to whether they will buy back the car. Volvo USA has been contacted via phone and email about the issue. I have received no response.
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintI brought a 2021 XC90 Volvo on 8/18/2022 with 12861 miles on it. The attached photo will show the current mile on the vehicle is 17421, so you can see I have only put 4560 miles on the vehicle. This vehicle was only brought 3 months ago. It's very concerning that I was driving down interstate 530 on Sunday 11/13/2022 and for the first time ever the low-pressure light comes on and then seconds later the vehicle starts the shakes and I almost lost control of the vehicle. I managed to get to the side of the highway to find that my back passenger rear tire had separated around the rim (pictures are attached). Perelli 275/40 R21 107V M+S Scorpion Verde All Season
SEAT BELTS (1 complaints)
SEAT BELTS
1 complaintTook my car in because one of my backseat seatbelts no longer retracted properly and Was so loose that I couldn’t possibly buckle my daughter in safely in her car seat. I had noticed the seatbelt on the other side was also starting to retract more slowly. When the service center did the test they said the one that no longer retracted was covered under warranty but the other was not broken enough to be covered and that I could come back when it was. So basically I should keep buckling my child into a faulty seatbelt until it is completely broken. When I asked why the seatbelts were like this they told me it was “wear and tear” and when I said it’s a new car they said it’s because of the car seats. When I got home I did some googling and found that thousands of other Volvos have already been recalled because of the exact same problem I am having and when I told them this they said I would have to contact Volvos head office. When I did that Volvo had me wait for weeks and then finally agreed they would fix my other seatbelt as a gesture of goodwill. Even though this is obviously they same problem as the recalled cars neither the company or the service place is going to tell anyone else. There are clearly more cars affected and they are lying to people and saying the seatbelts are safe when they are not and they do not care that children are being buckled into their unsafe seatbelts. I am appalled and hope you will take action ASAP. Who knows how many kids are being buckled into these seatbelts that won’t save them.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaintWith 2700 miles my XC90 has the Emission Control System light is on. The engine noise is considerably louder than normal (being a hybrid the SUV is pretty quiet) and it is not using the electric option.
Best & Worst Volvo XC90 Years
Best Volvo XC90 Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2022
2021
(Current Model)
Volvo XC90 Years to Avoid
No Volvo XC90 years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 70 and 74 across 9 scored model years.
Volvo XC90 Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 73/100 | Good |
Volvo XC90 Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Volvo XC90 reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volvo XC90?
Does the 2021 Volvo XC90 have steering problems?
How many recalls does the 2021 Volvo XC90 have?
How much does the 2021 Volvo XC90 cost to repair?
Don’t buy a 2021 Volvo XC90 without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Volvo XC90
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Volvo XC90 does best on how many systems draw complaints (80/100) and worst on recall impact (68/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Volvo XC90.
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