2021 Volvo XC90 problems
NHTSA has received 65 complaints about the 2021 Volvo XC90, and 20% of them involve electrical system. Next are brakes (12%) and engine (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 65 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 17 model years of the Volvo XC90 with enough data (65 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Title: Possible Defect – Uneven Airbag Deployment Description: On July 20, 2025, around 5:30 PM, i was driving a 2021 Volvo XC90 on a main road when another vehicle suddenly entered from the right side without stopping at a stop sign. I was unable to avoid a collision and my vehicle T-boned the other car (front impact on my vehicle). During the crash, I believe the front airbag system did not deploy properly or deployed unevenly.
The chrome trim on the center console, immediately to the right of the gear selector, deteriorates and peels away, leaving razor-sharp edges capable of cutting skin. This appears to be a widespread issue, with numerous owner reports and photographs online dating back to the 2016 Volvo XC90. The same defect is present on my 2021 model, suggesting Volvo has continued using a component prone to this failure for multiple model years.
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond unless the brake pedal had been released for 2-3 seconds. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and releasing the brake pedal to reverse out of the driveway, the vehicle rolled back at a faster speed, and the vehicle failed to respond as intended upon depression of the brake pedal. The contact noticed a pattern with the brakes malfunction.
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while retrieving items from the trunk, the contact became aware that there was water leaking into the cargo area. The contact stated that the holders were full of water. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the sunroof drain hose needed to be replaced and sealed, and the flooring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.