Volvo Initiates Safety Recall

Volvo recently initiated a recall of nearly 3,000 vehicles related to the onboard safety system. For years, Volvo has held the reputation of being among the most safety-conscious manufacturers in the world. The recalled vehicles include 2021 Volvo V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC60, and XC90. The defect rate on these vehicles is 100%, so owners must be diligent about bringing their vehicles down to their dealership to have the defective safety system repaired.

What’s Wrong? 

Volvo has what’s called an SRS (supplementary restraint system) which controls the airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and disconnects the high-voltage battery immediately following a crash. The SRS, according to Volvo, was not attached to the body of the vehicle according to specifications. Volvo said the problem was caused by “human error”.

Volvo said that the improperly installed SRS could result in a decrease in the performance of the vehicle’s vaunted safety features. The NHTSA did not say if they were aware of any injuries or accidents related to the defective safety system.

The affected vehicles were assembled in 2020 in Sweden. Those who purchased 2021 Volvos will be instructed on how to proceed. Customers can bring their vehicles to their nearest dealership and the dealership will inspect the vehicle to ensure that the SRS has been properly installed. If not, the dealership will reinstall the SRS. Authorized technicians have been instructed to check the torque of the mounting screws and retorque them, if necessary. The recall is expected to begin in mid-February.

Defective Safety System Liability

When you purchase a vehicle, you strike a deal with the dealership and the company that manufactured the vehicle. If that company advertises itself as among the top-rated manufacturers in vehicle safety, and that’s why you purchased the vehicle, then the company has warrantied the safety features. If you are involved in an accident where safety features you expected to work when you bought the car don’t end up deploying properly, you can absolutely file a lawsuit against the company that manufactured the vehicle, even if the accident is your fault.

As an example, let’s say you’re speeding down the highway in your new Volvo at 90 mph. You lose control of your car, strike a tree, and sustain serious injuries. Because your airbag failed to deploy, your injuries are much worse than they would have been if the airbag did deploy. Even though you caused the accident that led to your injuries, you also purchased a vehicle you believed would have specific safety features. Those safety features failed when you needed them most, so at least some of the liability for your injuries would fall on the company whose safety features failed to deploy during an accident.

Talk to a Florida Auto Parts Liability Attorney

The Coral Gables tire defect attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert litigate claims related to defective auto parts or vehicles that cause personal injury during accidents. Call today to schedule a free consultation and we can begin discussing your case immediately.

Resource:

carscoops.com/2021/01/detached-srs-control-unit-triggers-recall-for-certain-2021my-volvo-wagons-and-suvs-in-the-u-s/

https://www.tiredefectattorney.com/first-grade-teacher-killed-in-flying-tire-accident/