Volvo is recalling over 460,000 vehicles over fatal airbag-related issues. The manufacturer stated that because impacted cars come with airbag components that could rupture into metal fragments in the event of an accident, they pose a risk of serious and even deadly injuries.
The firm stated that 260,000 of the recalled vehicles were sold in the United States. At least one fatality has been linked to the issue that prompted the recall.
Airbag Issue Plaguing Volvo Similar To Problem That Prompted Major Takata Inflator Recall
Recalled cars come with driver’s airbag inflators powered by propellants that can degrade over long-term exposure to high humidity and high temperatures. In the event of an accident, these inflators can explode mid-deployment and metal shrapnel will fly into the vehicle’s cabin, potentially striking the driver or another occupant. While this issue is similar to Takata’s airbag problems, which have impacted more than 67 million cars in the U.S., Volvo’s airbags were made by ZF, an automotive parts supplier now known as ZF-TRW.
Impacted vehicles include the 2001 through 2006 S8- as well as the 2001 through 2009 S60. According to documents presented by Volvo, the firm is aware of at least one incident involving one of the recalled vehicles in which a person suffered fatal injuries.
Dealers will replace all impacted airbag inflators with parts that use different propellants and inflators for free. If you own one of the recalled vehicles, you should expect a notification in the email by late November.
Takata airbag inflators killed 37 people worldwide and injured more than 400 others. Considering Volvo’s ZF airbags can expose occupants to the same risks, Volvo car owners should not ignore this recall.
For more on this recall, follow this link, and for more information on your specific car, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, where you can plug in your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) to check for any open recalls.
