In production at Volvo's assembly plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina since 2018 for the 2019 model year, the third-generation S60 has been hit with a safety recall. As fate would have it, certain sedans produced for the 2019 to 2024 model years feature improperly secured front passenger air bags.
Volvo Car USA became aware of this condition at the end of June 2023 during a routine test at the aforementioned production facility. According to documents filed with the NHTSA, the Swedish automaker found that all bolts for the front passenger air bag weren't torqued to the correct specification.
An issue with the torque backup process was identified, with said issue corrected in production at the end of July 2023. Volvo singled out the assembly team for not following the correct torque backup process. Dealers have already been instructed to inspect and – if necessary – torque all front passenger air bag bolts to the correct specification. Loose bolts may result in reduced front passenger air bag performance, therefore increasing the risk of injury.
Not produced in sequential order, affected vehicles range from VIN 7JR102FL1MG118753 to VIN 7JRL12TZXNG158135. Their production dates are listed as August 2, 2018 through July 14, 2023. Owners will be notified by the Swedish manufacturer by first-class mail no later than January 15 of 2024.
In the meantime, third-gen S60 owners can easily determine whether their vehicles are recalled or not by running the vehicle identification number on the federal watchdog's website. Of course, the NHTSA doesn't charge a penny for this service. Owners may alternatively contact Volvo's customer service or the nearest authorized dealership for more information.
Photo: Volvo
Not exactly a commercial success, this generation of the S60 sells poorly due to increasing demand for utility vehicles and pickup trucks. A grand total of 7,715 units were delivered in the US from January 2023 through October 2023, whereas US deliveries totaled a meager 10,550 examples in calendar year 2022. By comparison, the Mercedes C-Class clocked 26,192 deliveries last year in this part of the world.
Outsold by the XC line of crossovers, the S60 comes in either mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid flavors. The mild hybrid kicks off at $42,000 with front-wheel drive, whereas the T8 eAWD starts at $51,950 (excluding the $1,095 destination freight charge). Regardless of powertrain and trim level, the S60 boasts three factory scheduled maintenance services at no charge whatsoever for three years after delivery or 36,000 miles (60,000 kilometers) on the clock.
There is no manual to speak of, which is not surprising in the least. Both the mild-hybrid B5 and plug-in T8 feature an eight-speed automatic supplied by Toyota subsidiary Aisin, and both rely on a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four combustion engine.
When it comes to fuel economy, the T8 is king of the hill due to an EPA-rated 31 miles per gallon combined (7.6 liters per 100 kilometers combined) in ICE mode. Switch to EV-only muscle, and the plug-in hybrid will be much obliged to deliver up to 40 zero-emission miles (64 kilometers). The B5 FWD and B5 AWD are rated at 30 and 28 miles per gallon (7.8 and 8.4 liters per 100 kilometers), respectively.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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