Short answer
Among Volvo XC40 model years through 2024, 2017, 2018 and 2020 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2021 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volvo XC40: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 10 (2017–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 14
- Fewest recalls
- 2017, 2018 and 2020 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Back over prevention (10)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2020, 2021, 2022 and 4 more years
Volvo XC40 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Service brakes |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Service brakes |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control |
| 2021 | 6 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 1 | 5 stars | Forward collision avoidance |
| 2019 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Seats |
| 2018 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2017 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20252 recalls
- 20244 recalls
- 20235 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 20216 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20194 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20171 recall
Volvo XC40: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volvo XC40 recalls are back over prevention (10), electrical system (7), forward collision avoidance (2), service brakes (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 7 of these 10 model years, and 2020, 2021, 2022 and 4 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Volvo XC40 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volvo XC40?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2017, 2018 and 2020 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Volvo XC40 model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "XC40", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy