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Your vehicleHome›Volvo›XC40› 2021
Volvo · Compact SUV

2021 Volvo XC40

Electric Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
63 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints3 crash · 2 injured reported 52
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 208 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 26 mpg
202620252024202320222021202020192018

The 2021 Volvo XC40 is sold in the U.S. as an 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, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 52 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volvo XC40 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volvo XC40 · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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———$2,600
XC40 AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223025———$3,300

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

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
XC40 AWD BEV10 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite
XC40 AWD, XC40 FWD5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes)—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower248 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Parking assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Inscription, Momentum, R-Design, Recharge). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length174.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height65.0 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Track, front63.0 in
Track, rear64.2 in
Curb weight3,721–4,718 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV, Recharge 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2021 XC40
Other years The 2026 XC40 Recalls Volvo recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Volvo XC40 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

R10333
413,151 vehicles 91% reported repaired
Problem Volvo 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." Risk A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix The 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 w
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V908000 reported Dec 23, 2025 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

R10320
413,151 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Sep 8, 2020 – Apr 18, 2025
Problem Volvo 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." Risk A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix The 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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V282000 reported May 8, 2025 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Vehicle Speed Control

R10170
5,351 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem Volvo 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. Risk A 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. Fix Dealers 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V288000 reported Apr 28, 2022 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine

R10128
4 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Volvo 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. Risk A loose or missing bolt may decrease the structural protection of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V881000 reported Nov 12, 2021 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

R10111
19,149 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. Fix 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. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10111.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V682000 reported Sep 1, 2021 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

R10078
2,278 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Volvo 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. Risk A disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volvo 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.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V109000 reported Feb 24, 2021 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

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 mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific XC40

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volvo publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volvo’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Volvo XC40, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2021 Volvo XC40

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this XC40 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
52complaints filed

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

18 per 10,000 built · Volvo reported 28,867 XC40 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

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

Most-cited components

Electrical System 14
Fuel/Propulsion System 10
Back Over Prevention 8
Forward Collision Avoidance 8
Unspecified 7
Vehicle Speed Control 5

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that at a stop light, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact stated that the doors would not unlock, and the seat belts became inoperable. The Rear Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated.
Electrical System at 58,000 miles Oct 24, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11551651
The vehicle is a battery electric that relies on its 12V battery to start and operate. My wife and I were driving the vehicle and began to stop in a let hand turn lane when it shuddered violently and stopped without any ability to move forward or in reverse - an emergency message appeared in the dash display indicating a 12V battery…
Power Train Mar 11, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11511344
front windshields crack from left or right pillar about 1/2 way up. I'm on my 3rd windshield. The forums for the XC40 are ALL having the same issue
Visibility/Wiper Mar 5, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11510262
*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.
Forward Collision Avoidance Jul 31, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11476749
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.
Fuel/Propulsion System Jul 22, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11475403
The contact called on behalf of the mother who owns a 2021 Volvo CX40. The contact stated that the mother was driving approximately 25 MPH, when the brake inadvertently stopped the vehicle and the seatbelt tighten the driver into the seat. There was anti-lock brake light illuminated and a message about accident avoidance city safety.
Service Brakes at 5,250 miles Jun 30, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11471863

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.

Reported by Volvo itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 3.5 per 100,000 built. Every XC40 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

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.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 424
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-19
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 411 service bulletins, 7 service campaigns, 6 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Exterior Lighting.

  • 37504.3.0 Service bulletin
    2026-09-19 · Power Train
  • This is a TJ Text Only no attachment If a customer experiences a DIM message stating "Propulsion Service Required" and IEM P0A7A48 is stored, please follow the advice under "Service".
  • 37342.2.3 Service bulletin
    2026-07-11 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: iCUP IHU - Text plus 1 PDF Prior Approval. In most cases, the IHU does not need to be replaced -In many cases the Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) does not need to be replaced and can be retained by following the fault tracing in VIDA.
  • 36555.8.0 Service bulletin
    2026-07-11 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: text plus 3 .png files and 1 mp4 CSD Stuck in Recovery Mode, iCUP. In most cases this Recovery mode can be resolved by preforming a IHU reload.
  • 37839.1.1 Service bulletin
    2026-05-23 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - Text plus two .mov attachments - If the customer is experiencing a frozen Sirius Radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the screen, follow the advice on this TJ under “Service”
  • 33031.6.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-23 · Unknown Or Other
  • 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 advice for detecting key
  • 37839.1.1 Service bulletin
    2026-05-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - Text plus two .mov attachments - If the customer is experiencing a frozen Sirius Radio banner, meaning in the app view the title of the song and station name will stay on the previous selected station; the audio will be for the station that is selected and not what is shown on the screen, follow the advice on this TJ under “Service”
  • 37813.2.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - Text plus 1 mp4 file - If, an iCup model year 2026 vehicle equipped with Sound System defined by VDN K501 or K502, experiencing the symptom where the audible turn-indicator sound is out of sync and may occasionally skip a “beep” (see TJ_37813_1.mp4), follow the guidance provided in the Service.
  • 36496.10.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-07 · Power Train
  • 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.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
U029D
U029D on Volvo →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
U029EManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
U02A3Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volvo XC40 failed the emissions check on 0.53% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.63% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 0.53%

failed emissions

1,433 initial inspections of 1,406 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 XC40Every 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.53%1.9%1,316
Failed the safety inspection0.63%1.5%1,433
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.07%0.19%1,433
Miles driven a year9,10810,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer47,94954,681odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

XC40 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 0 1 27 mpg2025 A 2 11 26 mpg2024 C 4 28 293 mi2023 D 5 48 223 mi2022 C 4 37 223 mi2021 this page D 6 52 208 mi2020 A 1 12 27 mpg2019 D 4 30 Do not drive2018 A 1 0 27 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 XC40

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Volvo XC40 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2021 Volvo XC40, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V288000, covering Vehicle Speed Control. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Volvo XC40?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Volvo XC40 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (63/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Volvo XC40?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Volvo XC40, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions) and the longest EPA range is 208 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Volvo XC40?

Transport Canada measured it at 174.4 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.0 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,721–4,718 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Volvo XC40?

Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volvo XC40, most often about electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, back over prevention. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Volvo XC40?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Volvo XC40 runs 5 to 10 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Volvo XC40?

The manufacturer has filed 424 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Volvo XC40, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-09-19. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Volvo XC40 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volvo XC40 failed the emissions check on 0.53% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.63% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints52NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings3 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins424NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA11 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 XC40 The XC40 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Volvo recall on file All campaigns filed against Volvo vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this XC40 by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

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

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