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2021 Volvo XC90 T5 Fwd
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
17 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 16, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Volvo XC90 T5 SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 18%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Volvo XC90 T5 Fwd, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
29%5 complaints · typically near 11k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“The infotainment system has locked up and has shut completely off while driving. When it shuts down (screen goes black) or glitches, the car actually loses power. Luck…”
Brakes
24%4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“My Xc90 is shuttering at interstate speeds as well as below. When I purchased, they had to machine the rotors and said they balanced the front tires. It did not help m…”
Engine
18%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“I plugged my usb to usb-c charging cable into my iphone 20 seconds after starting the vehicle. I proceeded to exit my driveway when the infotainment screen went comple…”
Backup camera & sensors
12%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY APPEARED VERY BLURRY AND DISTORTED CA…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Volvo XC90 T5 FWD beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every XC90 T5 Fwd model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Volvo XC90 T5 Fwd against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.