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.
