2021 Volvo XC60
The 2021 Volvo XC60 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the XC60 AWD PHEV, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 50 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XC60 AWD PHEV | Plug-in hybrid | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 34 and 65 kW 3-phase Sync. | 26 | 28 | 27 (34 MPGe blended) | 19 mi electric | 57 | 3 h | $3,050 |
| XC60 FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 29 | 25 | — | — | — | $3,300 |
| XC60 AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 28 | 24 | — | — | — | $3,400 |
| XC60 AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | — | — | — | $3,550 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43145, 42684, 42687, 42688.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XC60 AWD PHEV | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| XC60 AWD, XC60 FWD | 5 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes) | — |
| XC60 AWD | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
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 vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| GVWR class | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2 L |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 250 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 8 |
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). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 184.6 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 74.8 in |
| Height | 65.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.0 in |
| Track, front | 65.4 in |
| Track, rear | 65.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4,120–4,751 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 55/45 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 4-door SUV, Polestar 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.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2021 Volvo XC60 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 (5)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseSteering
R10213Service Brakes, Hydraulic
R10120Seat Belts
R10111Air Bags
R10068These 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 XC60
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.
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 XC60, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2021 Volvo XC60
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 XC60 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported
10.0 per 10,000 built · Volvo reported 50,011 XC60 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2021: 6 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 14
Most-cited components
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 XC60 PHEV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V179000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
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.
While driving, lost power very suddenly. A turtle comes across the dash. My vehicle wouldn’t start for roughly 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes, it starts up, but the check engine light is on.
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 twice, but they informed us they did not observe the issue during their test drive the first time.
In September 2021 on 3 occasions, my car's steering locked up while driving. I could not unwind my wheel from a turn. Each time nearly resulted in a collision with a garage ticket booth, a median, drifting into an oncoming lane. II slammed on brakes each time to avoid and accident or collision. It was frightening.
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.
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: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 3 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 6.0 per 100,000 built. Every XC60 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Exterior Lighting.
- 37631.3.0 Service bulletin2026-07-28 · Exterior Lighting
- This is a TJ - text only no attachments - If customer complains of a headlamp error message in DIM, in combination with any of the DTCs stated below, follow advice under "Service".
- 36863.4.0 Service bulletin2026-07-28 · Electrical System
- This is a Technical Journal: DIM Message and DTC IEM P0C0500. 1. Erase the DTC 2. Test drive the vehicle in electrical mode and accelerate until the vehicle reaches a minimum of 30 km/h (19 mph). 3. Perform a new VIDA readout If the DTC IEM P0C0500 does not return, do not replace any parts. Release the car to customer.
- 33031.6.0 Service bulletin2026-05-23 · 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
- 37631.2.0 Service bulletin2026-05-07 · Exterior Lighting
- This is a TJ - text only no attachments - If customer complains of a headlamp error message in DIM, in combination with any of the DTCs stated below, follow advice under "Service".
- 36496.10.0 Service bulletin2026-05-07 · 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.
- 36376.6.0 Service bulletin2026-05-07 · Unknown Or Other
- This is a Technical Journal: Text only no attachments - Before replacing a cell module, make sure the latest BECM software is downloaded. This is important for utilizing the VIDA method described here and receiving the correct cell balancing diagnostics after the replacement.
- 34521.11.1 Service bulletin2026-05-07 · Exterior Lighting
- This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test. If the result is not ok (air leak), it is ok to replace the headlamp
- 35503.4.0 Service bulletin2026-05-06 · Structure — Body
- This is a Technical Journal: Panoramic sunroof, sealing strip has a gap
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 complaintsCodes 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.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| U029D U029D on Volvo → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 2 bulletins |
| U029E | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 2 bulletins |
| U02A3 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 2 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 DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volvo XC60 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.61% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).
failed emissions
1,983 initial inspections of 1,944 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2021 XC60 | Every 2021 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 1.3% | 1.9% | 1,980 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.61% | 1.5% | 1,983 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.05% | 0.19% | 1,983 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,670 | 10,343 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 51,173 | 54,681 | odometer 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).
XC60 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2021 XC60
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2021 Volvo XC60 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2021 Volvo XC60, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V179000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2021 Volvo XC60?
NHTSA gave the 2021 Volvo XC60 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (57/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Volvo XC60?
Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Volvo XC60, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2021 Volvo XC60?
Transport Canada measured it at 184.6 in long, 74.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.4 in tall, on a 113.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,120–4,751 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 XC60?
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volvo XC60, most often about electrical system, unspecified, service brakes. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 4 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 XC60?
The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Volvo XC60 runs 5 to 7 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 LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Volvo XC60?
The manufacturer has filed 385 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Volvo XC60, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-07-28. 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 XC60 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volvo XC60 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.61% (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.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 4 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 4 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 5 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 50 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 3 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 385 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No 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 NHTSA | 11 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We 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.
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.