VolvoS902021Overview/volvo/s90/2021/base/

2021 Volvo S90

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 S90.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2021 Volvo S90 pairs an automatic S8 transmission with a powertrain rated at 21 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, requiring 6.4 quarts of 0W-20 viscosity oil. Against the model's documented complaint history spanning 1997 through 2016—where 1998 peaked at 39 complaints and 1999 bottomed out at just one—the 2021 registers as nearly trouble-free, with a single owner complaint targeting the electrical system and two recalls on file. That minimal complaint volume suggests the S90 has moved well beyond its most problematic early years, though the recalls indicate the platform still warrants attention.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/32/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Aux. battery: 401 · Aux. battery 180 CCA battery, OE oil filter 32140029. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI Aux. battery: 401 · Aux. battery 180 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size255/40R19/XL 100VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter32140029
Engine air filter31370089
Battery31652065 alt 30659531
Front wiper blades32341610
Thermostat31368063 alt 31686046
Cabin air filter31407747 alt 31434971

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200.4 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase120.5 in
Curb weight4297 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 32 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the S90 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.7–4.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.70 sec — 2021 Recharge T8 Inscription Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2021Recharge T8 Inscription Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-4 + Elec 11.6-kWh4.70 sec13.30 sec400 hpAWD
2021Recharge T8 Inscription Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger 1-4 + Elec 11.6-kWh4.90 sec13.50 sec400 hpAWD
2022B6 R-Design Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-46.40 sec14.80 sec295 hpAWD
2018T8 Inscription Plug-In Hybrid Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-4 + Elec 10.4-kWh4.50 sec13.30 sec400 hpAWD
2018T6 Inscription Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-45.90 sec14.50 sec316 hpAWD
2017T6 Inscription Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-45.60 sec14.10 sec316 hpAWD
2017T6 Inscription Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-45.60 sec14.10 sec316 hpAWD
2017T6 Inscription Sedan 2.0L Turbo Supercharger I-45.60 sec14.10 sec316 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.4 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Rear: Volvo P/N 31367567 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to Use a new seal: 28.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidVolvo P/N 31256774
Automatic Transmission FluidVolvo P/N 31256774
Brake FluidDOT 4
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilRear: Volvo P/N 31367567
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity6.4 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs13.0 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new fasteners only.
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugUse a new seal: 28.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugUse a new seal: 28.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFinal Drive: 15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.49 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46YF
Oil Capacity3.38 oz
RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°11 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. screw to crankshaft, Step 2: 90°, Step 3: Center Bolt: 81.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90°15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
129.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120°, Step 3: 120°29.5 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 50°33 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Inside Bolts15 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Foglamp (adjust alignment) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
Every 40,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 50,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Timing Belt Tensioner (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided federal record lacks data for the years immediately before and after 2021, making a direct year-over-year trend comparison for the target model impossible, though the current generation's 2016 baseline shows 0 complaints and 2 recalls. For the 2021 target year specifically, the data reveals only 1 complaint—an Electrical System issue—along with 0 crash and 0 fire complaints. Because the dataset omits adjacent model years, the complaint and recall trend across the generation's arc cannot be fully mapped, but the single 2021 complaint places the target year at the very low end of the historical spectrum compared to earlier models like the 1998 peak of 39 complaints. The data does not specify the root cause of the lone electrical complaint. With minimal federal complaints and no reported crash or fire incidents for the 2021 model, the available data supports this as a statistically low-risk and good year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
183
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 183 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
33031.6.02026-05-23Unknown Or OtherThis is a Technical Journal: Text plus 1 .jpg attachment - If remote control key is not…
34521.11.12026-05-07Exterior LightingThis is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test…
36496.10.02026-05-07Power TrainThis is a Technical Journal: Intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. If the…
35526.1.82026-04-23EngineThis is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform…
37809.1.12026-04-07Unknown Or OtherThis is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific S90. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 S90 take?

6.4 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 S90 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the S90 get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 32 highway / 25 combined mpg.