Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, steering, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Volvo XC60: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Volvo XC60. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 24–25 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 520 mi range |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Premature brake pad and rotor wear
20,000–42,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Volvo XC60, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The engine can suddenly lose power at speed. Owners describe a turtle icon, a check engine light, or a car that shuts itself on and off. Other reports describe the center screen and gauge display going black and rebooting, which drops the drive mode and adaptive cruise. Blind spot warnings, power windows, seats and ventilation can all quit at once. Dealers often blame a low battery and install a software update, and the problems sometimes return. Two reports describe the car moving with the brake pressed while collision avoidance stayed off. One of those ended in a crash that injured another driver.
Power steering suddenly goes stiff, sometimes on the highway, and then a "Power Steering Service Urgent" warning appears. In two reports this happened within weeks of buying the car new. In another pattern, the wheel locks mid-turn at low speed with no warning and releases only after braking. The dealer could not reproduce this and advised turning off the lane keeping aids. A separate report describes grinding while turning and a wheel that will not return to center, traced to a steering rack that failed internally. Each of these can push the car toward other lanes or objects.
Brake pads and rotors wear out early. Reports describe worn rear pads and rotors at 20,000 miles and completely worn brakes by 42,000. Warped front rotors cause a vibrating brake pedal and a shaking steering wheel when stopping. One owner says a dealer refused warranty pad replacement even though a technical service bulletin recommended it. Another report filed under brakes actually describes a sudden loss of power with a turtle icon, the same failure listed under electrical problems.
The blind spot (BLIS) warning lights work only some of the time, on one or both sides, for weeks at a time. Dealers often cannot reproduce the problem on test drives. When they reinstall the software, the problem stays. Some dealers say the system only activates when the two cars' speeds closely match, but owners who checked the manual's listed limitations found none applied. The result is a missing warning during lane changes, so drivers cannot rely on the indicator.
Excerpts from complaints XC60 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Today, my Sensus in the center console, as well as my instrument panel that shows the map between the gauges, went black and switched my drive mode out of ECO, shutting off my adaptive cruise control. Rebooted 2 times before becoming stable. I have a video, but your system doesn't allow me to upload the file type
Filed with NHTSA, February 2022
Without warning, car loses BLIS, electric windows and seats fail to work, ventilation system is inoperable. Supposedly fixed by dealer, but same issues have arisen within 60 days of repair.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2022
I brought the car to the Volvo dealer for my 20,000 miles service. They told me that the rear rotors and pads are worn and need to be replaced. The front brakes are fine. I think that this is a design flaw. No one expects the rear brakes to wear first, and certainly not after only 20,000 miles!
Filed with NHTSA, September 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 8 XC60 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the fourth model year of the XC60's second generation (2018–2023).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2021
Recall repairs are free at any Volvo dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.
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.
Risk: A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 Volvo V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. The Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control unit may not have been properly attached to the car body and may detach during a crash.
Risk: A detached SRS control unit can decrease the performance of occupant protection systems such as air bags, seat belts, and high voltage battery disconnect, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the SRS control unit mounting screws, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10068.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volvo XC60, with their own 2021 checklists.
