2021 Volvo XC40 Engine Recall (21V881)
Volvo Car USA, LLC · 4 vehicles · Reported November 12, 2021
Volvo Car USA, LLC is recalling 4 2021 Volvo XC40 vehicles. A bolt that secures the cross-member bracket for the electrical motor in the engine compartment may be loose or missing. A loose or missing bolt may decrease the structural protection of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V881 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V881000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | R10128 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 12, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volvo Car USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volvo XC40 |
| Units affected | 4 |
| Component | Engine |
| Safety risk | A loose or missing bolt may decrease the structural protection of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volvo XC40 in recall 21V881?
A bolt that secures the cross-member bracket for the electrical motor in the engine compartment may be loose or missing.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2021 XC40 BEV vehicles. A bolt that secures the cross-member bracket for the electrical motor in the engine compartment may be loose or missing.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 XC40 with recall 21V881?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose or missing bolt may decrease the structural protection of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose or missing bolt may decrease the structural protection of the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your XC40 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the engine, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V881?
Recall 21V881 covers 4 vehicles: 2021 Volvo XC40.
NHTSA lists 4 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volvo | XC40 |
What is the fix for the XC40 engine recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the cross-member bracket and install new bracket bolts, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the cross-member bracket and install new bracket bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10128.
When was recall 21V881 announced?
Volvo Car USA, LLC reported recall 21V881 to NHTSA on November 12, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 16, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 12, 2021 | Volvo Car USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V881000. |
| December 16, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 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 21V881?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V881 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 21V881000. 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 21V881?
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 21V881000 applies to your XC40.
- Call a Volvo dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 engine 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are XC40 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the engine.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the engine have been filed since recall 21V881 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 52 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the engine. 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.
- 2021 Volvo XC40: 52 complaints in total, 4 about the engine
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
On October 12, 2021 the above described car had a catastrophic failure of the power system. All functions ceased and the car was dead towed on a flatbed truck. Because the tow mode could not be engaged due to loss of all power the vehicle was dragged onto the flatbed.
2021 Volvo XC40 owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11436752, filed October 14, 2021
The check engine light has been on my vehicle since April 1, 2024. I have taken it in twice to a Volvo dealership and they cannot give me an answer as to why this is happening. They reset it and it comes right back on after a few miles.
2021 Volvo XC40 owner, NH, NHTSA complaint 11622739, filed October 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact was able to pull into a nearby parking lot where the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the cause of the failure and repaired the vehicle.
2021 Volvo XC40 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11715748, filed February 5, 2026
Can recall 21V881 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Volvo XC40 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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 21V881
Is the 21V881000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 16, 2021.
How do I know if my XC40 is part of recall 21V881000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 21V881000 (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.