Volvo recalls 2.2 million vehicles worldwide due to 'extremely rare' seatbelt fault

Volvo Cars have announced they are recalling 2.2 million vehicles worldwide including 170,000 UK cars due to an ‘extremely rare’ seatbelt safety issue.

According to report, the recall is the Swedish brand’s biggest ever, and it applies to passenger cars built between 2006 and 2018.

There are eight affected models, and they include the S60, S60 Cross Country, V60, V60 Cross Country, XC60, V70, XC70, and S80.

In a statement released on Wednesday, July 1, it said that investigations have identified a problem regarding the front seat belt fastening, mounted on the outer side of the front seat.

‘The front seat belt fastening cable may overtime suffer from reduced strength under certain circumstances,’ it explained.

Damage to the cable, which is located in a rubber sleeve on the outside of the seat, could result in ‘reduced seat belt restrain function’.

Volvo said instances of the fault manifesting are ‘extremely rare’ and the safety recall has been issued as a ‘precautionary’ measure.

Stefan Elfstrom, a spokesman for the car brand, told Swedish public radio this morning: ‘We have seen that this wire can be subject to wear and tear under special conditions,’ reducing the seat belt’s protection, he said, adding ‘this is a very rare problem’.

The manufacturer’s statement added: ‘We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers, and are grateful for their cooperation as we look to perform this precautionary action.’

Volvo Cars UK says that if you own one of the affected vehicles, until it has been repaired, it recommends ‘the driver and passenger ensure that the seat belt fastening is in a vertical position, aligned with the backrest, so that it will not be bent over the seat cushion when entering the seat’.

‘This will reduce the risk of damage of the seat belt fastening,’ it said