Recall Alert: 2007 Volvo S80

Volvo is recalling 8,406 S80 sedans from the 2007 model year because of an improperly installed steering hose that could burst, leading to a loss of power steering, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

S80s involved in the recall were manufactured between March 8, 2006 and May 16, 2007. You can check to see when your car was made on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

Volvo says the recall will begin in August. Dealers will inspect the hose and make the necessary repairs free of charge. Concerned owners can call Volvo at 201-768-7300 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236.

2012 Volvo Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, Volvo has discontinued the S40 and V50, which reported in an earlier post. The Swedish automaker is also no longer offering any V-8s across its lineup after the company axed its sole V-8 engine in the XC90 for 2012. V-8s were once offered in the S80 and XC90.

Overall, most models get more standard features and new trim offerings while maintaining similar prices to last year’s models.

2012 Volvo XC70, S80: Ch-Ch-Changes

For the 2012 model year, the Volvo XC70 and S80 gain new safety and convenience features and some appearance upgrades.

Both vehicles now have a Pedestrian Detection system as an available option. This system first debuted on the S60. It uses radar and a camera to detect people in the car's path and trigger alerts or, if necessary, applies full braking. Volvo’s City Safety system is now standard on both vehicles: The system can lessen or avoid low-speed rear-end collisions automatically, up to 19 mph. We found both systems to be disappointing when we tested them in the Volvo S60; hopefully, Volvo has made some changes.

Recall Alert: 2011 Volvo S80, S60, XC70 and XC60

Volvo is recalling 6,046 vehicles from the 2011 model year due to potential engine stalling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On the 2011 Volvo S80, S60, XC70 and XC60, the engine software that controls fuel cutoff function has been programmed to be too sensitive. In affected vehicles, the engine idle speed may drop, resulting in a sudden engine stall when braking or coasting in stop-and-go traffic. This could increase the risk of a crash.

All recalled vehicles will get updated software from Volvo to correct the problem free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on Dec. 10, and Volvo will send recall notices to affected owners.

For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 474 Volvo Vehicles Over Airbags, Navigation Defects

Volvo is recalling the 2010 XC60 over airbag concerns and Volvo models equipped with an aftermarket Garmin navigation unit, which was previously recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Just 58 XC60s are being recalled for side curtain airbags that may have been misassembled. The error may cause the airbags not to deploy correctly or possibly not at all, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash. The recall is expected to begin this month. Affected customers will be notified by Volvo, and their vehicles will be inspected and fixed, if necessary, free of charge by a Volvo dealer. For more info, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 9,746 Volvo Vehicles

Volvo is recalling 9,746 2010-11 S80, XC70, V70 and 2011 XC60 vehicles over faulty airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The driver’s airbag may not be wired correctly. In the recalled vehicles, the “SRS” lamp will be lit on the gauge cluster with the message “Airbag System Service Required” displayed on the Driver’s Information Module.

If the driver gets in an accident when the SRS lamp is lit, the airbag may not deploy as intended or deploy at all.

The recalled models were built between Nov. 19, 2009, and June 22, 2010. You can check your vehicle’s build date on the sticker affixed to the driver-side doorjamb. All of the vehicles in this recall are affected and need to be fixed. Volvo has already received 142 reports of the condition worldwide.

Owners will receive a letter about the recall from Volvo. Volvo dealers will install a small metal shim in the driver’s airbag clockspring wiring connector free of charge.

For additional information, owners can call Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA's hot line at 888-327-4236.

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2011 Volvo Lineup

For 2011, Volvo’s lineup gets a little more streamlined, losing and simplifying its wagon options and dropping some base trims, engines and drivetrains. As you can see below, these changes mostly increase the value of each Volvo model and trim. 

Interesting notes: While Volvo has discontinued the slow-selling V70 wagon for 2011, it has drastically changed the pricing and packaging of the more popular XC70, making the model several thousand dollars cheaper; the high-end S80 is now a less-expensive entry than the all-new S60, which is odd considering the S80 is supposedly the flagship. You can learn more about the all-new S60 here. For more information about the lineup, continue reading after the jump.

Recall Alert: 2007-2010 Volvo S80

Volvo is recalling 3,635 2007-2010 Volvo S80s for incorrect tire pressure information printed in the owner’s manual and encoded into the tire pressure monitoring system. 

For S80s with the V-6 powertrain, the owner’s manual, the loading information label on the doorjamb and the monitoring system set a maximum tire pressure of 35 pounds per square inch, but it should be 36 psi. The pressure for the V-8 model is set at 36 psi instead of the correct 38 psi maximum. 

According to Volvo, no complaint was submitted over this issue, but instead was discovered by the company’s own engineers. According to Car Talk, properly inflated tires are vitally important to your safety. Improper pressure will compromise cornering, braking and stability limits. The tire could also fail completely, causing a serious accident. Incorrect tire pressure can also diminish the vehicle’s expected fuel economy. 

Volvo dealers will update the vehicle software, the loading information label and the owner’s manual information for free. 

A scheduled recall launch has not been announced. For more information, owners can contact Volvo at 800-458-1552 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

2010|Volvo|S80

Recall Alert: 136,100 Volvo Cars, SUVs

Volvo is recalling 136,100 vehicles from the 2001 to 2005 model years, including almost every vehicle in its lineup from those years. The issue stems from a fuel pump that can develop cracks when you mix fuel types and live in a hot climate or one that sees rapid changes in temperature.

Affected models include:

• 2001-2004 Volvo S60
• 2002-2005 Volvo S80
• 2001-2004 Volvo V70
• 2001-2004 Volvo XC70
• 2003-2005 Volvo XC90

The states included in the recall are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

Dealers will inspect the vehicle and if a defective pump is present, the specific part named in the recall will be replaced for free starting in January 2010. You can contact Volvo for more information at 800-458-1552.

Recall Alert: 11,993 Volvo Vehicles

Volvo has issued a recall for 11,993 vehicles due to a problem with the software of the electrical system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall includes the 2008-2010 S80, 2009-2010 XC70 and the new 2010 XC60.

In these models the software in the central electronic module may not send signals to the fuel pump electronic module under certain conditions. This missing signal can interfere with the start of the fuel pump. The driver might be able to start the vehicle or even drive a short distance, but then the engine may stall, which could lead to an accident.

Dealers will fix the problem by downloading new software to the vehicles’ central electronic module for free. Owners may contact Volvo at 800-458-1552 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236.