Model year 2020 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2020 Volvo XC40: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2020 Volvo XC40 at 25–27 mpg combined across 2 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 12 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

25–27

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Volvo dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2020 Volvo XC40 recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2020 Volvo XC40, newest first.

Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking and 1 more component

NHTSA 20V144000 Reported Mar 12, 2020

Filed by: Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R29998)
Components: Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking; Forward collision avoidance: Software: Pedestrian/cyclist/object/obstacle/ recognition
Units affected: 121,605 (estimate)
Problem: Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.
Risk: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2020 Volvo XC40 fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2020 Volvo XC40 EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
XC40 AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	All-Wheel Drive	Premium	22/30/25 mpg	$3,300	352
XC40 FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	23/33/27 mpg	$2,500	331

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2020 Volvo XC40 crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2020 Volvo XC40 NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2020 Volvo XC40 T4 SUV FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars	15.5%	No
2020 Volvo XC40 T5 SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars	16.4%	No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2020 Volvo XC40 owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Volvo XC40, most recently on Aug 19, 2026. 1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 2 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2020 Volvo XC40 complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Electrical system	3
Engine	3
Power train	3
Service brakes	3
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking	2
Air bags	1
Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera	1
Electrical system: Software	1
Exterior lighting	1
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings	1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Volvo XC40 model years

Volvo XC40 by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2026 XC40	26–27 mpg	0	1	5/5
2025 XC40	26 mpg	2	11	5/5
2024 XC40	26 mpg · 98–106 MPGe	4	28	5/5
2023 XC40	26–27 mpg · 85 MPGe	5	48	5/5
2022 XC40	25–26 mpg · 85 MPGe	4	37	5/5
2021 XC40	25–26 mpg · 79 MPGe	6	52	5/5
2019 XC40	26–27 mpg	4	30	—

All Volvo XC40 years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2020 Volvo models

2020 Volvo S60 2020 Volvo S90 2020 Volvo V60 2020 Volvo V90 2020 Volvo XC60 2020 Volvo XC90

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Volvo.