2021 Volvo XC60 Owner Complaints

After backing up out of a parking space, the side mirror on the drivers side moves to an unpredictable position and does not return to its original position. This is potentially dangerous because the driver is not aware of this change in position, and when changing lanes may rely on mirror that is in a faulty position. This appears to be some sort of flaw in the logic that tilts the mirror down when backing up and returns to original position when the car is put back in drive. Regardless of whether I turn this feature on or off, the same malfunction occurs.

NHTSA ID

11753923

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

The entire right ride of the car just stopped working. Back right door became permanently locked and could not open from outside or inside. When hitting lock/unlock buttons on key fob i) front passenger door would not lock/unlock and ii) right side mirror would not fold in/out. Blind spot monitor and TPMS said they needed service. Left side of car was fine and worked. Car would start normally. I checked all relevant fuses and none were blown. Then all of a sudden it all started working again. My fear is that in the heat of summer what if all doors became locked somehow and i did not have the key fob with the manual key? I have 2 children

NHTSA ID

11747588

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

An intermittent electrical failure occurred to my wife causing my 2021 Volvo XC60 to stop and then later go into limp mode while driving. The service light went on immediately and was very startling to her and made it difficult for the drivers following as the car speed was significantly reduced/ I suspect limp mode though it was not on the dashboard. When I called Volvo and then brought the car in... it is a known issue to Volvo. They purposively produce a vehicle that is known for sunroof leaks which knowingly leads to electrical issues exposing their customers to harm. Volvo (Geely) inspected the car, found the electrical issues from the front interior to the battery compartment that had water over an inch deep. the VGM (Vehicle Gateway Module) was replaced and reloaded, all connectors were separate/dried and several had to be cut/spliced and rewired due to corrosion damage. Carpets were removed, the gasket was replaced, the front and rear sun roof drains were cleaned out. Aside from the safety concern the shrinking of the rubber gasket caused the issue. Not funny, but Volvo/Geely states that the repair now has a lifetime warranty after I was charged over $4,000 USD. The vehicle is only about 5 years old!!

NHTSA ID

11743000

Incident

May 29, 2026

My 2021 Volvo XC60 experienced a fuel system failure at approximately 53,500 miles. Prior to the failure, the vehicle displayed multiple warning messages and entered reduced-power (limp mode), including the turtle symbol on the instrument cluster. The vehicle unexpectedly would not start despite multiple attempts. The failure occurred while I was at a physical therapy appointment approximately 25 minutes from my home. After approximately 10 minutes, the vehicle started and was able to be driven. Because of the warning messages, limp mode, and failure-to-start condition, the vehicle was taken to a Volvo dealership for diagnosis. The Volvo dealership diagnosed the vehicle with ECM fault code P008A00 (Low Fuel Pressure). According to the repair invoice, testing confirmed that fuel pressure was intermittently low, and the dealership determined that the in-tank fuel pump was faulty. The fuel pump was replaced to correct the condition. This failure created a safety concern because the vehicle became unexpectedly inoperable and would not start when needed. Had the failure occurred in a remote location, during extreme weather conditions, at night, or in an emergency situation, it could have left the vehicle occupants stranded without reliable transportation. The inability to start the vehicle occurred without warning and could have resulted in a more serious safety risk under different circumstances. The issue was reproduced and confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealership, which inspected the vehicle, diagnosed the fault, and replaced the fuel pump. Repair records are available for inspection upon request. The failure occurred at approximately 53,500 miles, which is relatively low mileage for a major fuel system component. Because fuel pump failures can render a vehicle unexpectedly inoperable, I am submitting this complaint for review and investigation.

NHTSA ID

11741045

Incident

May 11, 2026

Multiple times, with the Pilot Assist system engaged, the vehicle has pulled me out of my intended travel lane when on a curve, near an on / off ramp, and generally tends to drift from the left to right of the intended lane of travel on straight sections of road. It will drift to the rumble strip and sometimes into the next lane with both hands firmly on the wheel. I find myself fighting the system at these times. When it gets confused, with corners or merges, and on / off ramps, it will abruptly change lanes which is very dangerous. Twice it almost caused an accident. I have had it looked at many times now by Gengras Volvo in East Hartford where I bought the car. I was provided a loaner each time but the car has been in their shop for close to a month over these visits. It happend on one test drive with their repair tech driving the car, so the issue has been verified and recorded by Gengras. Multiple components of the system have been changed out and Volvo has downloaded and reviewed the telemetry twice. Volvo's stance is that the system is functioning correctly, and in times if inclement weather it may not work as intended. Most of my incidents happened on dry roads. Upon researching this on the internet, there are many other owners of Volvos of my year and others complaining of the exact same issues and behavior of the car. I feel it may be a design flaw but in my opinion the system is not safe to use. Volvo went to a completely different system soon after 2021. This was a very expensive option to purchase on the vehicle. We have a similar system in our Acura that works flawlessly on the same roads in any weather condition. I bought this vehicle certified by Volvo with roughly 15K miles for my son to drive when he had just gotten his license as Volvo has an incredible reputation for safely. I do not feel safe with him driving this vehicle as was intended. Latest diagnosis attached, Remainder available from Gengras Volvo, East Hartford CT.

NHTSA ID

11731535

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

After 5 times of phantom breaking at high speed I took the car to Betten Volvo. The did a system update to try to correct. The car has now 3 times in 2 weeks again triggered the break at highway speed. I have another appointment scheduled April 21, 2026. Having the brake applied for no reason at this speed is extremely jarring and dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11730370

Incident

Apr 8, 2026

The driver's side mirror repositions itself downward, upward, or outward when unlocking and opening a door. It infrequently repositions while driving as well. These occurrences put me and others at risk by increasing my blind spot when I need to change lanes. Two Volvo dealers have reproduced the mirror changing positions when unlocking and opening the door, but a few times they were not able to get the car to reproduce it. Technicians have performed software updates, deleted and reprogrammed the keys to the car, and performed a factory reset on the infotainment center to no avail.

NHTSA ID

11724198

Incident

Dec 5, 2024

Exiting a parking lot, attempting to break. The plastic break pedal cover fell off and was unable to break in time to avoid a front end accident.

NHTSA ID

11722722

Incident

Mar 7, 2026

SRS warning light is on

NHTSA ID

11709802

Incident

Nov 28, 2025

The USB ports under the center console malfunction frequently. The main, top engine mount disintegrated and needed to be replaced under 50,000 miles. The rear seat seatbelts come loose and sag easily. They do not retract automatically. The rubber stripping, where the door jamb is, comes off. The handles to the air vent break off very easily, rendering the vents inoperable. **The software for the vehicle malfunctions constantly, displaying the incorrect readings for fuel economy, the gas gauge, and more. It is possibly affecting the catalytic converters and O2 sensors. **The vehicle turns itself on, in battery mode. **The blind spot indicators to not light up sometimes and do not make any noise indications of nearby cars.

NHTSA ID

11707518

Incident

Sep 26, 2025

Serpentine belt failure at 70K miles. Was driving back home when I felt the traction misbehaving and the check engine light came on. Was able to get home safely and brought the car to the garage the next open day. During inspection, serpentine belt was found missing 1 rib and was caught in splash fan. Had to pay almost $1000 to replace it as insurance had run out a couple months prior. Volvo tech said it was almost surely a defect in the belt as these last typically ~150k miles and they had seen other such recent cases of early failure. I was not happy having to pay to replace a defective part which moreover was about to catastrophically fail, destroying my engine/traction and potentially hurting me. Thankfully the check engine light, which was apparently unrelated (oxygen sensor which needed to be replaced for another $1000) brought me to the garage before the accident happened.

NHTSA ID

11705446

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds and turning, the front end of the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized after turning, which required the contact to jam the steering wheel for the steering wheel to return to the center. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering rack had failed internally and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V001000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11688891

Incident

Sep 15, 2025

Mileage

45,000 mi

My car was backed into July 4, 2024, unoccupied and had damage done to the hood and front light and bumper. The person who hit the car had insurance and I took it to a local collison company for the repairs In November 2024. (Insured would not return calls to insurance company so it took this long for repairs) I began taking it to Volvo OC in December because the sensors were constantly lighting up and beeping constantly with no one around me. I took it to Volvo many times from December to August 2025. They would have my car for a week or two and think they fixed it and it was not fixed. After Volvo sent me a note saying that Corporate was not going to pay to do anything and they were done with trying to fix the car I took it back to my collison company. When Volvo last had it they told me that the wiring harness was not the correct part number and that the collision company installed the wrong one. I called them back and they explained that they had to call Volvo Mission Viejo and gave them the VIN number and they installed what was sent. I took it back to the collision company and they called and ordered another harness and they received the exact same harness. They installed that one and the sensors still do not work correctly. They then called Volvo Mission Viego again and they were told there was a cable that was needed if a car was in an accident and 2 sensors needed to be attached to the cable and the other sensors to the harness. So they did that. And still the same issue. At that time Volvo told me that the sensors in my car were not the correct sensors and that they were not the sensors that came with the car. The collision company said they removed the sensors from the harness but attached the exact same sensors during the repair. So both Volvo and the collision company have left me hanging and this is a safety issue. If I am looking one way for traffic and the beeping goes off it is startling to think someone is coming from the other

NHTSA ID

11685673

Incident

Dec 2, 2024

Rotor seems to have worn out much quicker than expected. When I break, I can feel certain vibration / bumps. When breaking while going down on a hill, front break also has made screeching noise. Steering feels stiff at times. generally, I have always been topping up gas more than the advertised mileage performance / EPA

NHTSA ID

11684241

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

Rear Center Seat seatbelt buckle does not latch.

NHTSA ID

11632886

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

The passenger side rear door locked and could not be open from either the inside or the outside. The dealer concluded that the door lock failed in the locked position. It gained entry to the door panel with the door shut, removed the old lock, opened the door, installed a new lock assembly and reassembled the door. Because the car was slightly out of warranty, we had to pay for the repair. Until this was done, we felt very unsafe. In the event of an accident or emergency, the passenger on that side of the car would not be able to exit the car. There was no warning prior to this happening. It just stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11631036

Incident

Nov 29, 2024

Driving as normal through a major intersection and the car began to jerk and stutter when trying to accelerate. there was no warning or symptom prior to this issue, but upon it happening, the turtle warning light appeared and had the display had an engine system message saying "reduced performance". I was able to pull over. Then turned the car off and back on, which then allowed me to pull in to the nearest parking lot. The warning light remained on. The car was towed to the nearest Volvo dealership. They confirmed the issue was a failure of the fuel pump. They replaced the fuel pump. Luckily I had passed the intersection and the cars around me were still accelerating from a lower speed, so this did not cause an accident.

NHTSA ID

11630286

Incident

Dec 10, 2024

Around 10/26/2024 I purchased a 2021 Volvo XC60 from Carvana. Carvana sells vehicles with a 100 day limited warranty. The manufacturer warranty was expired at this time. Carvana states they do an inspection of the vehicle prior to delivery. When I received the vehicle, I noticed the steering wheel would vibrate hard when I came to a stop. I took the Volvo to the local Volvo dealership to perform a full multi-point inspection. They found that the brake pads were at 1-2 MM with warped rotors on the front wheels. The back wheels had 3 MM brake pads. I called Carvana on 11/22/2024 to discuss the brake issue and inquired about the 100 day warranty to cover the brake repair because I was sold a very unsafe vehicle. I was told their warranty would not cover the cost to repair the brakes. I asked for the inspection report they did prior to delivering the Volvo. They will not release the inspection report to me. So I asked for the details of the inspection on the brakes. They told me their inspection showed front wheels with 6m on both and the rotors were at 29 (LF) and 28.02 (RF). They told me the rear wheels had 6M on brake pads for both wheels and the rotors were 11 (LR) ad 11.92 (RR). They could not tell me the date of the inspection. I trust the Volvo Dealership to provide accurate information on their inspection. This is not a safe vehicle and should have the brakes replaced AND Carvana should pay for this cost. At this point, Carvana is selling very dangerous and unsafe vehicles and declining to provide inspection reports. I ask for your help with contacting Carvana and absolutely requiring them to repair and replace the brakes on the vehicle they sold me.

NHTSA ID

11626930

Incident

Oct 26, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC60. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder, and the vehicle continuously turned on and off independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the auxiliary battery power was low and that the vehicle needed a software update. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 18,000.

NHTSA ID

11626461

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

Mileage

18,000 mi

August 23rd, 2024, the car started hesitating when gas was applied. The transmission light came on, then the parking brake light came on saying it was turned off, the check engine light came on, the volvo on call light came on, and the car wouldnt turn off. I moved the shift into different gears, and was able to turn the car off. I waited a while and started the car again. This time the on call, and check engine light stayed on. I called the dealership, was told it was probably a low battery. Had me come in Monday the 26th to have it checked. But Saturday the car wouldn't start right away, and all the warning lights came back on and wouldn't shift gears. Had to call AAA to have it towed. Got a call from the dealership Monday August 26th. Was told they were testing the battery to see if it fails so they could replace it under warranty. They ended up replacing the battery, and told me there was a lot of water in the trunk under the spare tire, where the battery for the on call is located. Said there was a gap in the sunroof weather stripping where tree debris probably clogged the drain pipes. They cleaned that out, and replaced the sunroof weather stripping which was under warrenty. But I was told the water and clogged pipe was not under warrenty, and had to pay for that? September 6th, 30k service and check the on call light that never went off. They found 1.5 inches of water under my front carpet and will be checking for electrical damage and corrosion. They told me this is not covered under the warranty and advised to call my insurance. My safety concern is future electrical issues/ failures while driving. At any time something could malfunction. Thats a huge safety concern and not feeling safe to drive the car. There is nothing about this huge problem in the warranty or maintenance to check the drains !!! September 9th I will call the claims department and notify the adjuster. Also call back the dealership. Prior to this I've had no problems with the car.

NHTSA ID

11613270

Incident

Aug 23, 2024

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. Despite their own Technical Service Bulletin [XXX], dated [XXX], which recommended warranty replacement of brake pads, the service writer, Joe Barber at Volvo of St. Louis, 7700 Manchester Rd. refused to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Instead, he quoted me a complete front brake job, to include rotors and pads for $920. I declined. With over 50 years of driving experience, not once have I owned a vehicle with brake/rotor failure with so few actual miles driven (mostly highway). Dealer claims this is normal for Volvo cars. Supposedly, one of the safest cars made for many years. I filed a written complaint with the Service Mgr. when he sent me a customer satisfaction survey. No response. Also filed a complaint with Volvo North America in Mahwah, NJ. They also quickly denied any responsibility, claiming normal wear and tear. Unable to upload documentation from my phone, but can do so by PC scan if allowed. Please advise. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11564361

Incident

Jan 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC60 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Cross Contact, Tire Size: 255/45/R20, DOT: (N/A). The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear passenger’s side tire had a blowout. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was confirmed that there was a sidewall blowout. The tires were not replaced. The tires were the original tires. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000.

NHTSA ID

11552620

Incident

Oct 15, 2023

Mileage

17,000 mi

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. Nervous that my car isn’t safe to drive, I contact corporate Volvo, since there is NO information in the manual for what this means- they told me to contact my local. So I call them and they state it’s safe to drive and they could get me into the schedule 3 weeks out…. Then, I get to my appointment and they then tell me my brakes and rotators are completely shot at 42,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11529485

Incident

Mar 10, 2023

My car continued to move even with the brake pedal pressed, and collision avoidance systems did not turn on. This is very unsafe - a car that doesn’t respond when the driver brakes puts everyone else on the road in danger. The first time this happened was on Sep. 6, 2022. I was driving on the highway when the car in front of me stopped abruptly. I started to brake. The distance between our cars was large enough that I should have been able to stop safely, but my car continued to move. I was unable to stop the vehicle and crashed into the car in front of me. At the time, I thought it was my fault. Although there was damage to my car, luckily no one was injured. (This was resolved, and my car was repaired, with help from Shelter Insurance.) On June 13, 2023, I was pulling up to a red light behind another vehicle. I stepped on the brakes and my car jolted to a stop (I had to push the pedal down very hard to get my car to start slowing down). Then my car began to move again, even though I had not released the brake pedal. It was moving at about 1-2 mph. My car got so close to the car in front of us that the parking sensors began to beep. We would have run into the stationary vehicle if I hadn’t put my car in Neutral. When the light switched to green I put my car in Drive again. At the next intersection the brakes were back to normal, and my car was driving as before. I had my car towed to the local Volvo dealership. After an inspection, I was told they hadn’t found anything wrong. I left my car at the dealership for further investigation, and was given a loaner. I don’t know if there is a connection, but both times this happened, I had been driving on the highway at high speeds (70 mph) for a few hours before trying to brake.

NHTSA ID

11527193

Incident

Jun 13, 2023

1.What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Blind spot sensor repeatedly malfunctioning. Vehicle generates "service required" message, and it appears that blind spot monitors fail to illuminate. Child safety locks also deactivate without driver input. Vehicle is currently available for inspection. 2. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Dealer has updated the software multiple times but has not attempted to assess the hardware. 3. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. 4. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Drivers side door buttons periodically do not illuminate and do not operate windows or locks. Vehicle cannot be locked at times, or only passenger side doors can be locked. Key fob and manufacturer app only work to lock the vehicle sometimes. Issues began approximately July 2022 and have repeated intermittently. Issues seem to be occurring more frequently and for longer. Issues have been particularly frequent and long lasting in the last week; vehicle last serviced at the dealer approximately 12/22/2022.

NHTSA ID

11499902

Incident

Jan 2, 2023