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.
