Volvo Recalls 2M Vehicles Over Seat Belt Safety Issue

Volvo is recalling more than 2.2 million cars worldwide due to an “extremely rare” issue with the front seat belt fastenings. The recall is the biggest in the carmaker’s history. 

The seat belt safety issue affects the front seat belts’ fastenings, which are mounted on the outer side of seats. The fastening cable can undergo diminished strength “under certain circumstances.” The company has said cases of the fault actually happening are “extremely rare” and the safety recall has merely been announced as a “precautionary” safety measure. 

The Volvo recall affects 169,481 cars in the U.K., This Is Money reported, and includes the S60, S60L, S60CC, V60, V60CC, XC60, V70, XC70, S80 and S80L models built between 2006 and 2019.

“The front seat belt fastening cable may over time suffer from reduced strength under certain circumstances,” Volvo said on its website.

“The issue is related to a steel cable connected to the front seat belts,” the carmaker told Reuters. “The cable may, under certain rare circumstances and user behaviours, over time suffer from fatigue. This could eventually cause damage to the cable, resulting in reduced seat belt restraint function.”

A steel cable that secures the seat belts to the car could weaken and become impaired, which could diminish the seat belts’ capability to restrain riders in a crash. The Volvo recall is only a precaution for now as it has been confirmed that there have been no accidents or injuries related to the seat belt safety issue. 

“It’s a very rare problem, and we don’t have any reports of it, but after our due diligence and research, we found that there was a way in which the customer could move the seat belt and seat belt buckle where over time it could rub and damage the cable,” Volvo spokesperson Jim Nichols said. “We’re doing this out of an abundance of caution.”

The seat belt safety recall is not the only Volvo recall this year.

In March 2020, Volvo recalled every one of its 2019 to 2020 vehicles over concerns about the vehicles’ automatic emergency braking system. Car and Driver reported that the automated emergency braking system may not accurately detect an obstacle and employ the brakes. Fortunately, there were no accidents or reports of injuries at the time of the recall.

Regarding the current seat belt safety recall, Volvo has taken precautions to keep drivers of the affected vehicles safe before any accidents or fatalities occur.

Volvo says it will notify vehicle owners of the recall by mail and remedy the situation. The company is instructing drivers to bring in their vehicles to have the faulty seat belt part replaced.

Those who think their vehicle may be affected by the Volvo recall can reach out to Volvo regarding the recall by calling 01628 422522 or by getting in touch with a local Volvo dealer. 

Volvo’s website provides a quick way to check for recalls and will advise consumers whether their vehicle has is subject to any recalls that need to be attended to.

By entering a car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into the website, drivers can check to see if their car requires immediate attention due to a recall. If a recall notification does not appear, it means the vehicle is currently free from any recalls. Recalls by automakers are issued often, so checking back regularly is advised. 

Do you own a Volvo vehicle? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Top Class Actions connects consumers to class action news, lawsuits, settlements and attorneys.

This free newsletter is a service of Top Class Actions. You may subscribe here to receive the latest class action news delivered to your inbox each week!

Read More Lawsuit & Settlement News:

ManKind Recalls Balcony Grills After Warning From Fire Brigade

High Court Finds Volkswagen Used Defeat Devices to Cheat on Emissions Tests

FCA Confirms Support for Credit Customers Through End of October

Lloyds, Others Fined £64M for Treating Mortgage Customers Unfairly