2021 Volvo XC40 Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V682)
Volvo Car USA, LLC · 19,149 vehicles · Reported September 1, 2021
Volvo Car USA, LLC is recalling 19,149 2021-2022 Volvo S60; 2021-2022 Volvo V60; 2021 Volvo V60CC; 2021 Volvo V90; 2021 Volvo V90CC; 2021 Volvo XC40; 2021-2022 Volvo XC60; 2021 Volvo XC90 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." An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V682 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V682000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | R10111 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 1, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volvo Car USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Volvo S60; 2021-2022 Volvo V60; 2021 Volvo V60CC; 2021 Volvo V90; 2021 Volvo V90CC; 2021 Volvo XC40; 2021-2022 Volvo XC60; 2021 Volvo XC90 |
| Units affected | 19,149 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Rear / Other > Retractor |
| Safety risk | An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volvo XC40 in recall 21V682?
The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
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."
Is it safe to drive a 2021 XC40 with recall 21V682?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the retractor.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V682?
Recall 21V682 covers 19,149 vehicles: 2021-2022 Volvo S60; 2021-2022 Volvo V60; 2021 Volvo V60CC; 2021 Volvo V90; 2021 Volvo V90CC; 2021 Volvo XC40; 2021-2022 Volvo XC60; 2021 Volvo XC90.
NHTSA lists 19,149 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Volvo | S60 |
| 2021-2022 | Volvo | V60 |
| 2021 | Volvo | V60CC |
| 2021 | Volvo | V90 |
| 2021 | Volvo | V90CC |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC40 |
| 2021-2022 | Volvo | XC60 |
| 2021 | Volvo | XC90 |
What is the fix for the XC40 seat belt retractor recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 21V682 announced?
Volvo Car USA, LLC reported recall 21V682 to NHTSA on September 1, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 13, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Volvo Car USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V682000. |
| October 13, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 61 months ago. If your XC40 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my XC40 is part of recall 21V682?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V682 is open on your XC40, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V682000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should XC40 owners do about recall 21V682?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V682000 applies to your XC40.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Volvo dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the retractor happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are XC40 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 6 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 21V682 was reported on September 1, 2021, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the seat belts and were received on or after September 1, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related seat belts issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 238 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 6 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Volvo XC60: 74 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2021 Volvo XC40: 52 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
- 2021 Volvo XC60: 48 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
- 2021 Volvo XC90: 37 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
- 2022 Volvo S60: 15 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
- 2021 Volvo S60: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2021 Volvo V60CC: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2021 Volvo V90: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
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.
2021 Volvo XC60 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11707518, filed December 29, 2025
I purchased a vehicle from a dealership that was aware of faulty airbags that was returned to dealership from another consumer. I discovered the issue a few months later when airbag warning light appeared and had it repaired which included steering wheel airbag, lower knee airbag and the seat belt in September.
2022 Volvo S60 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11623092, filed November 1, 2024
The seat belt warning chimes audio alert does not alert when passenger does not wear seatbelt and easy to go unnoticed.
2021 Volvo XC40 owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11438593, filed October 29, 2021
Can recall 21V682 make my XC40 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V682000 does not automatically make your XC40 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021 Volvo XC40 affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the XC40 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your XC40 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volvo XC40 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V682
Did the recall 21V682 fix work?
Since recall 21V682 was reported on September 1, 2021, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 13, 2021.
Is the 21V682000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my XC40 is part of recall 21V682000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V682000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Volvo. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.