According to the official recall notice posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site, the fault concerns the side cover of the seat control panel, which may cause the seatbelt attachment to the seat come loose.
"The driver's seat side cover panel (seat control panel) in certain driver's side impact may release the attachment of the seatbelt to the seat frame," says the official recall notice. The fault is not dangerous for the normal operation of the car but, as you might have guessed, may cause injuries to the driver in the event of a crash.
"Should this condition occur in a crash, the seatbelt may fail to properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk on injury."
As with any manufacturer sanctioned recalls, repairs will be done at dealers and servicing locations free of charge. The solution found by Volvo is to modify the seat side cover in such a way that it no longer poses a threat. The recall is expected to begin before the middle of December.
The recall announced today is among the few coming from Volvo (compared to other carmakers). Considered one of the most safe manufacturers in the world, Volvo has not often taken this course of action. As you can see in this case, the recall is in fact more of an additional precautionary measure, than a repair.
The XC60 was recently awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick.
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