Volvo Has A Problem With The Seatbelts On Some XC90s

Volvo has made a name for itself producing some of the safest cars on the road. And with a five-star rating from the NHTSA, and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, the new XC90 is one of the safest vehicles it’s ever made. But it’s still subject to the occasional safety recall.

Late last year, the XC90 was included (alongside the S60, V60, XC90, and S90) in a seatbelt-related recall. Then it was recalled again earlier this year (alongside the S90 and V90) due to its side curtain airbags. Now it’s being recalled again due to another seatbelt component.

The recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that a small component may come lose and become a projectile in the cabin in the event of a crash. The subcomponent is called the Micro Gas Generator and forms part of the seatbelt retractor on the right-side third-row seat.

Fortunately the problem (in the United States at least) is limited to an estimated 1,305 vehicles, which will need to be brought in to their local dealerships to have those seatbelt retractors replaced. The process is slated to kick off on August 7. To put that number into perspective, consider that Volvo sold 2,363 XC90s in America last month alone, and over 32,000 last year, so the affected range of vehicles is relatively small.