Rockleigh, N.J. — Mar. 01, 2017 — Three different models of light 2017 vehicles from Volvo are included in a new recall action and may suffer from a fault that could put vehicle occupants in danger. Exactly 5,529 vehicles were said to be included in the recall, although the official Part 573 Safety Recall Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not list a percentage. The recall includes XC90, S90 and V90CC vehicles.
The Defect
The report described the process that could affect certain vehicle parts as “hydrogen embrittlement.” According to this source, the air bag curtains were assembled, in some cases, by faulty bolts treated by Polish supplier Autoliv Poland Sp. Z O.o.
These bolts could potentially weaken over time, eventually leading the inflatable curtain air bags to fall out of place, failing to protect those in the vehicle. There could be noticeable noise before this occurs, the report added, and it could fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 226, “Ejection Migration.”
Timeline of Events
- Nov. 14, 2016-Jan. 31,2017: Affected models go through production.
- Feb. 10, 2017: Volvo’s Critical Concern Management Team began preparing for the recall following an initial vehicle report.
- Feb. 16, 2017: An ongoing investigation continued as the Part 573 report was submitted. Dealer notification also began, extending until Feb. 23.
- Feb. 24, 2017: The acknowledgement statement for the recall appeared.
The Resolution
Although owner notification is not set to begin until April 1, the manufacturer has already planned for actions to fix the defective bolts, including an inspection and replacement process. Last year, the Volvo S90 was part of an unrelated air bag recall, regarding an air conditioning fault that could gradually affect air bag deployment by leaking moisture into the vehicle’s interior. The fix required replacing an air conditioning drainage hose in some cases.
