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2021 Volvo XC40

ElectricGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
67 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA51
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA208 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA26 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019

The 2021 Volvo XC40 is sold in the U.S. as a electric and gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the XC40 AWD BEV, is EPA-rated at 208 miles with 79 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 51 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
XC40 AWD BEVElectricAWD150 kW ACPM857279 MPGe208 mi42.88 h$950
XC40 FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233226———$2,400
XC40 AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223025———$3,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43295, 42685, 42689.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Volvo XC40 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
○minor

Back Over Prevention

R10333
413,151 vehicles
ProblemVolvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."RiskA rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixThe software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282
NHTSA campaign 25V908000reported Dec 23, 2025Volvo Car USA, LLC
○minor

Back Over Prevention

R10320
413,151 vehicles
ProblemVolvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."RiskA rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixThe software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
NHTSA campaign 25V282000reported May 8, 2025Volvo Car USA, LLC
▲high

Vehicle Speed Control

R10170
5,351 vehicles
ProblemVolvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2022 XC40 BEV vehicles. Water may enter the cable harness, corroding the accelerator pedal sensor (APS) circuit.RiskA corroded APS circuit may send corrupted signals, causing unintended acceleration, a lack of acceleration, or a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect for corrosion, install a cable splice to prevent water intrusion and, as necessary, replace the connector terminal and APS, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10170.
NHTSA campaign 22V288000reported Apr 28, 2022Volvo Car USA, LLC
▲high

Engine

R10128
4 vehicles
ProblemVolvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2021 XC40 BEV vehicles. A bolt that secures the cross-member bracket for the electrical motor in the engine compartment may be loose or missing.RiskA loose or missing bolt may decrease the structural protection of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.FixDealers will replace the cross-member bracket and install new bracket bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10128.
NHTSA campaign 21V881000reported Nov 12, 2021Volvo Car USA, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

R10111
19,149 vehicles
ProblemVolvo 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."RiskAn unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V682000reported Sep 1, 2021Volvo Car USA, LLC
○minor

Electrical System

R10078
2,278 vehicles
ProblemVolvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2022 XC40 Recharge vehicles. The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) microprocessor may reset and cause the high voltage system to disconnect.RiskA disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.FixVolvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10078.
NHTSA campaign 21V109000reported Feb 24, 2021Volvo Car USA, LLC

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

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 matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
51complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 15 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Electrical System14
Fuel/Propulsion System10
Back Over Prevention8
Forward Collision Avoidance8
Unspecified6
Vehicle Speed Control5

What owners describe

“Had a cracked windshield, Volvo replaced with OEM. Another pin head size rock chip resulted in another cracked windshield. Google search will reveal the Windshield on the XC40 Volvo crack with the lightest contact. The glass has a defect and the crack interferes with driver visibility and driver assist functions”Dec 2, 2022 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“*We're experiencing constant phantom braking (sometimes multiple times within a day) with our vehicle on local roads as well as highways. Usually this occurs when we're approaching a vehicle in a turn lane, slowing down. Our blindspot sideview mirror lights light up when there is nothing present, even when we're in the…”Jul 31, 2022 · Forward Collision Avoidance · NHTSA owner report
“Very frequently (4-5 times a week) the charging cable will not release from the vehicle. Pushing release button resolves to flashing yellow, red, or green lights, but does not release. Sometimes will release from console, but not always. Locking and unlocking the vehicle, repeating all the above several times will even…”Jul 22, 2022 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★not rated★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other XC40 model years

A

2026 Volvo XC40

0 recalls · 1 complaints

A

2025 Volvo XC40

2 recalls · 11 complaints

B

2024 Volvo XC40

4 recalls · 28 complaints

C

2023 Volvo XC40

5 recalls · 44 complaints

B

2022 Volvo XC40

4 recalls · 37 complaints

A

2020 Volvo XC40

1 recalls · 12 complaints

C

2019 Volvo XC40

4 recalls · 30 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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