Volvo recalls luxury sedans for Takata-like airbag problems

Pleasanton, CA – November 29, 2020 – Volvo Car USA (OTC:GELYF)  has recalled 54,124 executive cars with airbags whose inflators may burst and injure or kill the driver and passengers with “metal fragments” when deployed. The recall concerns the FG2 Twin Driver Airbag Inflator Module containing 5AT 148 and includes:

  • 2001-2003 Volvo S60
  • 2001-2003 Volvo S80

Recall summary

Airbag inflators perform exactly what you’d expect them to do – inflate a car’s airbag when needed in the event of a crash. In a scenario that’s eerily similar to the infamous Takata airbag recall, metal fragments that form part of the inflator may shatter during the airbag deployment and strike the occupants of the vehicle.

The defect is a result of the propellant in the airbag being exposed to hot temperatures and “elevated moisture levels” present in the areas with such climate. As such, the recall encompasses 22 Southern U.S. states, as well as five U.S. territories,  such as Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. 

History of airbag troubles

Since 2018, ZF TRW – a U.S. subsidiary of German auto parts maker ZF Group that appears to be behind the recall – has been subject to 68 lawsuits, according to the court records. At least one of the ongoing lawsuits allege that ZF-manufactured airbags fail to deploy during a crash because of a “design defect,” according to a transcript from a hearing.

Risks

In the event of a crash, the airbag deploys at a very high speed, in less than a second.  During the deployment, the metal fragments in the inflator can shoot out and injure the driver or the passengers or cause their death.

As of the date of the recall, one fatality was reported.

Repair

Volvo will be replacing the driver side airbag free of charge. The vehicle owners will be notified of the recall on January 4.  It is not clear, however, when the remedy will be available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 54,000 vehicles are a part of this Volvo Car recall. To check whether your car is one of them, you can use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Aleksandra SnesarevaVolvo recalls luxury sedans for Takata-like airbag problems

Volvo XC60 recalled for loose windshield wipers

Pleasanton, CA – Aug 4, 2022 – Volvo Car USA LLC (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has remedied issues with 82,889 SUV models including the 2018-2020 Volvo XC60 Compact that were dealing with windshield wipers installation issues. Additionally, 3,699 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 77 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of these 2018-2020 Volvo XC60 Compact were remedied in 2020, 4 groups in 2021, and 1 other group was remedied in 2022 due to these issues with the windshield wipers that might loosen and prevent them to work properly.

Pleasanton, CA – Aug 27, 2020 –Volvo Car USA LLC (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has recalled 87,226 compact SUVs with improperly attached windshield wipers. The recall includes model year 2018-2020 Volvo XC60 compact SUVs.

Recall Summary  

The wipers on the recalled Volvos may not be properly screwed into the car. The nuts holding the wipers to the windshield could loosen and keep the blades from effectively clearing water from the windshield, causing visibility problems for the driver. 

The issue has been traced to a mistake in the instructions Volvo gave to the Swedish and Chinese factories who build their XC60s. The mistake has since been corrected, so only cars manufactured before May 20, 2020 are implicated in the recall.

Risks

Nearly 1,235,000 crashes each year are weather-related, and 40% of these occur in the rain. It is important to maintain good visibility in wet weather so that you can react as quickly as possible to hazards and other driving obstacles. Poorly attached windshield wipers can seriously affect visibility in these conditions, making driving on wet roads even more dangerous.

The repair

Volvo will tighten the loose windshield wiper arm on the affected vehicles for free. The recall repair is currently available and should take less than half a day.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 87,000 vehicles are part of this Volvo recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolvo XC60 recalled for loose windshield wipers

Volvo Cross Country vehicles recalled for faulty seat belts

Pleasanton, CA – June 30, 2020 – The Volvo Group (NASDAQ:VLVLY) has recalled 307,910 Cross Country vehicles with seat belts that are not properly closing. The recall includes:

  • 2008-2016 Volvo V70 and XC70 vehicles
  • 2007-2016 Volvo S80 vehicles
  • 2011-2018 Volvo S60 and V60 vehicles
  • 2016-2018 Volvo S60CC  vehicles
  • 2014-2020 Volvo S60L vehicles
  • 2009-2015 Volvo S80L vehicles
  • 2009-2016 Volvo XC60 vehicles
  • 2015-2018 Volvo V60CC vehicles

Recall summary  

On July 9, Volvo determined that certain Cross Country models should be recalled to repair seat belts in the front seats, on both the driver and the passenger sides.

The need for repair is caused by a faulty steel cable that connects the seat belt to the occupant’s seat. Due to an undisclosed issue, the cable may fatigue over time, especially when bent over the seat cushion. The fatigued cable may weaken or break and not fully restrain the occupant in the event of a crash.

Risks 

Seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017. If the belt is not securely fastened, the car occupants can be injured by inflating air bags or thrown from the vehicle in the event of a crash. As such, out of 37,000 people killed in car crashes in 2017, close to half were not wearing seat belts.

The repair

To fix the issue, your dealer will replace the seat belt cable for both front seats. The repair will be free of charge and is estimated to take an hour.

However, that replacement is not available until at least December. In the meantime, Volvo recommends that drivers and passengers fasten the seat belt “in a vertical position,” parallel to the backrest, without bending it over the seat cushion.  This is set to minimize the damage to the cable.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 307,000 vehicles are included in this Volvo recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydVolvo Cross Country vehicles recalled for faulty seat belts

Some Volvo S60 owners to receive recall notice in June

Laguna Hills, CA – June 3, 2019 – Volvo Car USA is recalling thousands of S60 vehicles due to a rear suspension issue that may present a safety hazard to affected owners while driving, potentially resulting in a crash. The flaw, first recognized in late April and brought to the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is for 2019 model year sedans. Owners will be informed of the issue by direct mail. Those contacted are urged to take their automobiles off the roads for the time being so the vehicles can be serviced by their nearest Volvo dealer. Motorists will not be charged for the fix.

The Defect

As detailed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 8,300 S60 Volvos are being recalled due to the revelation that certain bolts and lock nuts, which attach to the rear toe link flange – a constituent of the suspension system –  may be not be screwed on tightly enough. As a result, the components of the vehicle that assist with steering may malfunction or detach should the bolts be further loosened, increasing the risk of a crash.

Timeline of Events

The luxury model has been a hot seller for Volvo since it was originally introduced in 2000 and has been through several iterations ever since, now in its third generation as of 2018. S60s are predominantly manufactured at a recently opened assembly plant near Charlestown, South Carolina, which is where the flaw appears to have derived, opening around the same time as the S60’s redesign.

Brought to the attention of Volvo, the luxury automaker relayed the assembly oversight to the NHTSA, wherein an investigation launched April 25 on models built at the Berkeley County plant. Investigators determined that 8,266 S60 sedans were likely affected, or what amounts to 1% of the total volume either on the roads or dealers’ showroom floors, The Car Connection reported. Most of the S60 Volvos involved in the recall are believed to have originated from the luxury automaker’s newly opened plant in the Palmetto State.

The Solution

Starting June 21, owners of the affected S60s can expect to receive a notification either from Volvo or NHTSA pertaining to the flawed suspension system. Drivers can continue to check back at MotorSafety.org to see if their vehicle is affected and if the repair is available. This repair will be free of charge.

Sean ReyesSome Volvo S60 owners to receive recall notice in June

Volvo Recalls 2018-19 XC60 and S90 Vehicles For Front Seat Defect

 

Laguna Hills, CA – April 5, 2019 – Volvo Car USA is recalling certain 2018-2019 XC60 and S90 vehicles. The rear flange nuts on the driver and passenger front seat rail may not have been installed during assembly. If a crash were to happen, the missing nuts could affect the front seat structure and position, increasing the chance of injury. As many as 2,297 vehicles may be involved.

The Defect

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on this problem, because of potentially missing flange nuts, the front driver and passenger seats may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to front-seat occupants. Installation of the flange nuts may have been omitted as the result of an error during the supplier’s assembly process, compromising the front seat’s structure and position.

Timeline of Events

Volvo received information from its supplier March 4, 2019, indicating issues in their production during a certain period of time meant the quality of delivered components could not be guaranteed. A review was initiated immediately and the potential issue went to the Critical Concern Management Team (CCMT), which began an internal investigation March 6. This led to the CCMT identifying the issue as critical. Consequently, based on its internal analysis and supplier documents, Volvo decided March 20 to institute a worldwide recall of all affected vehicles.

The Solution

The recall will begin May 17, 2019. Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat rails for missing flange nuts, installing them as necessary, free of charge to car owners. In addition, the supplier process has been updated and improved.

Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo’s number for this recall is R19931. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V220000.

Sean ReyesVolvo Recalls 2018-19 XC60 and S90 Vehicles For Front Seat Defect

Volvo recalls 167,000 cars worldwide to fix trunk lid

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, owned by China’s Geely holding company, says it is recalling 167,000 cars worldwide with more than 45,000 in the U.S.A. because the hatch lid lift system on electric trunks can loosen, stop working in cold weather, and possibly cause damage. This recall affects 2018-2019 Volvo XC60s.

Recall summary

Volvo Cars USA LLC determined that the liftgate arms on 2018 and 2019 VC60s are negatively affected by freezing temperatures. The liftgate arms are used to assist in the opening of the liftgate and also to help secure the gate closed. 

Risk 

If the arms were to freeze this could cause the arms to become separated from the vehicle. If the lifting arms were to separate, they could project rearward with extreme force. By doing so the arms would present a major risk of injury to persons and property. 

Repair

Volvo has stated that it will replace the tailgate lifting arms with an improved design. This repair will take less than half a day and be performed free of charge. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 45,000 cars are included in this recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Sean ReyesVolvo recalls 167,000 cars worldwide to fix trunk lid

Rear Seat Lock Striker Issue Causes Volvo Recall

U.S. – Aug. 30, 2018 – According to US Recall News, Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) has announced a recall for some of its vehicles that have potential faulty seat backs. In the event of a crash or accident, these seat backs could move rapidly and unexpectedly, posing a risk for injury to passengers inside the car. This recall is in line with several others this year by Volvo over interior faulty components, including oil pressure indicators, headlights and starter motor fuses.

The Defect

In the back rear seats of certain Volvos, there might be a missing key component that secured the back of the seat in place. The rear seat back lock strikers are part of the seat back that moves backward and forward for adjusting. In the event of sudden movement, such as hard braking, stopping rapidly or a crash, this lock striker could come loose and not have the seat secured properly. This put the passenger at risk of injury in crash circumstances.

The vehicle model involved in this particular recall is the 2019 Volvo XC40. This is a compact SUV in the Volvo line that comes in three styles: the Momentum, the Inscription and the R-Design. According to Volvo’s website, there will be a full electric version of the XC40 manufactured in 2020.

About 25 vehicles are being recalled for this specific faulty part in the rear seats. So far, there has been no reports of injury or accidents due to the problem with the rear seat backs and lock strikers.

According to Fortune, one of Volvo’s biggest recalls in recent history involved 74,000 vehicles in 2016. It posed a potentially dangerous situation, as there was issues with the seat belt mechanisms found in 2016 and 2017 Volvo S60, S90, V60, VC60 and XC90 models. The lock was not working correctly, putting drivers and passengers at risk for not being secure in the moving vehicle. Volvo offered full inspections of the seat belts and notified all owners by mail, and did further checks at dealerships to unsold cars. No injuries or accidents were reported relating to the specific recall.

This year has seen several other recalls for Volvos, according to Edmunds. More than 7,700 models from 2014 have been recalled due to potential signaling and headlight malfunctions, as well as another 7,800 from 2016 that could have issues with the starter motor fuse. Certain Volvo S60s, about 30,000 total, are also being recalled over a problem with the indicator that alerts drivers of low oil pressure.

Timeline of Events

Earlier this month, Volvo made the recall announcement for certain XC40 models. They are offering repairs to the faulty seat components and vehicle interior checks for owners. If the seat back lock striker is missing from the vehicle, Volvo will replace it free of charge during the inspection. Officially, the recall will begin on October 15, 2018. Owners and drivers will be notified of the issue so they can take measurements to rectify the recall.

The Solution

If drivers, owners and dealerships are concerned about the recent Volvo recall, they can find out if their vehicle is affected by this recall by using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Sean ReyesRear Seat Lock Striker Issue Causes Volvo Recall

2017 Volvo XC90: Recall Alert

Cars.com – June 15, 2017


2017 Volvo XC90: Recall Alert

Vehicles Affected: Approximately 1,300 model-year 2017 Volvo XC90 luxury SUVs
The Problem: The micro gas generator — a part used within the right-hand side seat belt retractor for third-row seats — may detach after the seat belt retractor pretensioner is deployed to become a projectile in the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of an injury.
The Fix: Dealers will replace the third-row passenger-side seat belt retractor for free…

Read the entire article on the Cars.com website

Sean Reyes2017 Volvo XC90: Recall Alert

New Volvo Recalls Target Faulty Air Bag Systems

Volvo is taking on several different 2017 vehicle models due to air bag problems that could put occupants at risk.

According to Consumer Affairs, these vehicles could fail to deploy air bags when sustaining damage. The source said these issues could represent a lack of compliance with multiple standards.

The main thing this recall affects is the passenger side air bag. Since the inflator igniters in these vehicles might not properly prompt the air bag, the fix will replace them entirely. This should leave the vehicles with better protection systems. The affected models include Volvo S60 and V60 vehicles, as well as the Cross Country versions of each of these and the XC60 vehicles.

Many of these vehicles were also involved in a previous recall pertaining to seat belt issues announced last November.

adminNew Volvo Recalls Target Faulty Air Bag Systems

Volvo Issues Recall Over Side-Curtain Air Bag Defect

Recall Masters – March 21, 2017


Volvo Issues Recall Over Side-Curtain Air Bag Defect

Volvo Cars has recalled more than 5,500 vehicles due to a serious side-curtain air bag defect. The recall impacts Volvo S90 sedans manufactured between November 2016 and January 2017, as well as V90 Cross Country and XC90 luxury sports utility vehicles produced over the same span, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Defect
The bolts securing side-curtain air bag structures in these models are likely to break due to manufacturing error. Hydrogen embrittlement is the primary cause, an issue that arose due to variability in the bolt fabrication process. Once applied, the fasteners quickly deteriorate, showing signs of failure within 48 hours installation. Fixtures that manage to effectively secure side-curtain air bag assemblies for at least 48 hours are deemed structurally sound, while those that fail or falter must be replaced…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Sean ReyesVolvo Issues Recall Over Side-Curtain Air Bag Defect