2021 Volvo XC90

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 matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator or the brake pedal, the vehicle hesitated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the electric rear axle drive system had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure occurred each time the vehicle was driven. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to continue driving the vehicle because the vehicle was safe to drive. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11765838

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

Mileage

60,000 mi

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving a Nuna RAVA child safety seat. The harness straps loosened on their own without the harness release button being pressed or otherwise intentionally operated. This occurred while the child was secured in the car seat. This malfunction presents a serious risk to child safety. If the harness loosens during vehicle travel, particularly in a sudden stop or crash, the child may not be properly restrained. In a crash, the child could potentially move out of the appropriate restraint position, be partially or completely ejected from the car seat, or suffer serious injury. The component involved is the harness restraint system, specifically the mechanism or component that is supposed to maintain the harness straps at the properly tightened position. The car seat is still in my possession and is available for inspection. I also have video footage of my child in the carseat while it was malfunctioning. I reported this safety concern to Nuna, the manufacturer, but Nuna has not responded to my safety complaint or inspected the car seat. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue because an unintended loosening of the harness can compromise the effectiveness of the child restraint and potentially place a child at serious risk of injury or death in a crash.

NHTSA ID

11763442

Incident

Sep 3, 2026

In February 2026, my 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 (VIN: [XXX]) experienced a hybrid battery cell failure. The failure was diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealership (Volvo of Tacoma) and is covered under the vehicle's manufacturer warranty. However, I have been informed that a replacement part may not be available until December 2026 or later — a delay of ten months or more from the original failure date. Volvo has advised me that attempting to charge the vehicle in its current state carries a risk of fire. As a result, I am unable to charge the hybrid system and have had to operate the vehicle on gasoline alone, with fuel costs increasing approximately 3.5x per month. Separately, an independent mechanic has advised me that continued operation of the vehicle without a functioning hybrid battery cell is causing ongoing, worsening mechanical damage over time, separate from the original defect. I have made extensive good-faith efforts to resolve this directly with Volvo Cars USA customer care, including phone calls, an online request form, and direct correspondence, with prolonged periods of no response despite written acknowledgment of the issue on XXX. Given that Volvo itself has identified a fire risk associated with charging this vehicle, combined with an indefinite repair timeline of ten months or more and mechanic-confirmed risk of continued mechanical degradation, I am filing this report to document a potential safety defect in the hybrid battery system of this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11758785

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding serious safety concerns with my Volvo vehicle that may affect the safety of my family, especially young children. 1. Second-Row Center Seat Integrated Booster Seat Belt Failure The integrated booster seat belt in the second-row center seat is not functioning properly. The seat belt mechanism appears defective and does not secure the child as intended. This presents a significant safety risk. In the event of sudden braking or an emergency stop, a child could be thrown forward due to the seat belt’s failure to restrain the occupant correctly. This defect creates a serious risk of injury and should be investigated immediately. 2. Recurring Check Engine Light Following Recall Repair / Hybrid Battery Concerns Following a recent Volvo recall repair and/or work related to the hybrid battery system, the vehicle began displaying a recurring check engine warning light. The issue was reported to Weaver Brothers Volvo in Raleigh, North Carolina. The dealership performed repairs or adjustments, and the warning light temporarily disappeared. However, the same issue has returned, raising concerns that the underlying problem was not properly diagnosed or corrected. Given the vehicle’s purchase price of approximately $75,000, I am concerned about the reliability and safety of the vehicle, particularly if the warning light is related to the hybrid battery system, emissions system, or another critical component. Headlight Issue: Headlights provide inadequate illumination during nighttime and rainy conditions, reducing visibility and creating a potential safety hazard. Left Speaker Issue: The left-side speaker intermittently produces static and distorted audio during music playback and hands-free phone calls, causing distraction and affecting communication or music while driving Thank you for your attention to this matte

NHTSA ID

11742208

Incident

Jun 4, 2026

While driving, I experienced a sudden loss of braking assist with no warning. The brake pedal became extremely hard to press, accompanied by a hissing/air sound. Despite applying full pressure, the vehicle did not slow as expected and continued moving. At one point, after stopping, the vehicle began to move forward again while my foot remained firmly on the brake. The issue occurred immediately upon or shortly after starting the vehicle, with no prior warning indicators. This created a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11732913

Incident

Apr 21, 2026

Unintentional acceleration.First, I was in line at car wash proceeding slowly ahead as directed in line. Foot on accelerator lightly moving, when car surged rapidly hitting back end of Tesla about 6-8 ft ahead (2/26/26 12:30pm) Impact strong enough to push Tesla into truck hitch damaging it front of it as well. Applied brake, but impact was too rapid. Second incident with my Volvo was a month later(3/22/26 about 10:30 am) and my husband was driving. . Made right turn on green light and started to accelerate when it revived and surged forward until applied brake. Dealer could not replicate. No codes but repair shop had to recalibrate after 1st incident and may have lost code on 1st incident(wreck). Now that insurance knows what happened, I don't know if they will intervene. hopefully. No warnings went off or messages. Airbag did not deploy. I believe that this is an unintentional acceleration, especially occurring twice now. Dealership says car is safe and they will monitor. I guess it means when we have another incident. Hopefully not fatal to us or anyone else. Dealer says it is a transition from hybrid electric to gas. But I have had this car 4yrs10months and this never happened until now. And the transition never has thrown me back in my seat or had the engine rev. The battery was replaced last August because of bad cell and recall on it for fire hazard. Maybe this could have an affect. On first incident I was in shock so thought maybe in hit accelerator instead of break, but when second incident occurred and it was exactly like first except no collision. Thatshow I originally reported to insurance and police as my fault. But that's not true. Now I called insurance to report dual incidents, two different drivers with unintentional acceleration. SR-1 filed

NHTSA ID

11728623

Incident

Feb 26, 2026

I am reporting a failure of the fuel pump system in my Volvo vehicle, which currently has approximately 60,000 miles. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealership, which diagnosed the fuel pump as defective and requiring replacement. This appears to be a premature failure given the mileage and proper maintenance of the vehicle. This failure presents a serious safety risk. A faulty fuel pump can cause the vehicle to stall unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. Loss of engine power without warning places not only the driver and passengers at risk, but also other motorists on the road. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced symptoms consistent with fuel system issues, including difficulty starting and intermittent performance irregularities. These symptoms escalated until the vehicle became unreliable to operate. The problem has been confirmed by the manufacturer’s authorized service center, and the vehicle has been inspected accordingly. No external factors or misuse contributed to this failure. It is my understanding that Volvo has issued recalls and/or acknowledged similar fuel pump defects in other vehicles of comparable models and years. Based on the nature of this failure and its alignment with known issues, I believe this vehicle should be evaluated for inclusion under an existing recall or be subject to further investigation. Given the safety implications of fuel system failures, I respectfully request that this issue be formally reviewed to determine whether a broader defect trend exists that could impact other vehicles. The failure occurred at relatively low mileage and under normal operating conditions, raising concern of a systemic defect rather than normal wear and tear.

NHTSA ID

11726315

Incident

Mar 14, 2026

My vehicle was recalled for a faulty battery module. I turned the car into the dealer (Palo Alto Volvo in Palo Alto, Ca) on December 18 and the dealer has not been able to provide any ETA on repairs.

NHTSA ID

11725373

Incident

Dec 18, 2025

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

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.

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

This is a Technical Journal: Panoramic sunroof, sealing strip has a gap

This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure
 Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.

This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval.
 Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section