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.

Volvo to Drop V70 Wagon

Time is running out to buy a new Volvo V70 wagon. Citing declining sales and the evaporation of the premium-wagon segment in the U.S., Volvo plans to drop the V70 from its U.S. 2011 lineup.

By comparison, interest in the automaker's crossovers, like the XC60 and XC70, remains strong, and Volvo plans to introduce a front-wheel-drive version of the XC70 for 2011, according to company spokesman James Hope. Currently, the XC70 comes standard with all-wheel drive.

The XC70 is mechanically similar to the V70, but it has a higher stance and unique body cladding that gives it a more rugged appearance. If U.S. interest in wagons returns, Hope said it wouldn't be difficult to bring the V70 back, as it will remain available in other regions of the world.

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: 17,614 Volvo Vehicles

Volvo has issued a recall for 17,614 vehicles, including the 2008-09 versions of the S80, V70 and XC70, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is due to a software programming error in the fan control module for the engine cooling fan that may cause it to stop working. This can reduce air-conditioner performance and possibly even cause the engine to fail in a worst-case scenario, increasing the risk of an accident.

Dealers will replace the fan control module with a new one for free. Owners may contact Volvo at 800-458-1552 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 12,000 Volvo Sedans, Wagons

Volvo has issued a recall for 12,303 vehicles, including the S80, V70 and XC70 from the 2007 and 2008 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A glitch in the diagnostic software in the central electronic module could cause the windshield wipers to malfunction and either not turn on when activated or turn on when the driver hasn’t touched the switch. Faulty windshield wipers could lead to a loss of visibility in bad weather and increase the risk of an accident.

Dealers will inspect the module and upgrade the software free of charge. Owners can contact the Volvo customer center at 800-458-1552 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.