Volvo fire risk recall
Car maker warns of dangerous engine fault but says it doesn’t have a solution
TENS of thousands of Volvo drivers in the UK have been warned about a dangerous fault in the engine that could cause their car to burst into flames.
The Swedish car maker has issued a global safety recall for 507,000 vehicles, including 69,616 in Britain.
The bulk of these are estates cars and SUVs – sports utility vehicles – which are both popular with families.
Volvo, which perhaps more than any other car manufacturer has built its reputation on producing safe, reliable family cars, has admitted it does not yet have a solution to the problem. It said it investigated after being alerted by drivers about a ‘small number’ of car fires. It found that ‘in very rare cases the plastic engine intake manifold may melt and deform’.
A spokesman added: ‘In the very worst case, there is a possibility that a localised engine bay fire may occur.’
The plastic engine intake manifold lets air into the engine’s cylinders, where it mixes with the fuel.
The cars being recalled were made between 2014 and 2019 and have a two-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. They include saloons, estate cars and SUVs costing up to £60,000. The models affected include the S60, S80, V40, V60, V70, V90, XC60 and XC90.
Safety recalls are issued by manufacturers when there is a potentially dangerous fault in a particular make or model.
They have to send a letter to all affected drivers advising them to book their vehicle in at an approved garage to be fixed free of charge.
BMW and Vauxhall have previously recalled hundreds of thousands of cars because of faults that can cause them to catch fire.
Volvo, which is now owned by Chinese car giant Geely, stressed that no one has been injured in car fires caused by the fault.
It urged drivers to watch out for the danger signs, which include the engine management light illuminating, and the engine cutting out or losing power.
Volvo has insisted the affected models are safe to drive, provided that they are not showing any of the symptoms. Although it is sending letters to the owners advising them to take their vehicle into a local approved garage, the firm is still working out how to fix the problem. It said it will contact drivers as soon as possible.
Graham Stringer, a Labour member of the Commons transport committee, drives a 2018 S60 Volvo diesel saloon which is affected by the recall.
He said he was not told about the problem when he phoned his local Volvo garage yesterday morning to book it in for a service.
‘I’d driven Saabs for 20 years and went for a Volvo because of their reputation for safety,’ he said.
‘I find this very worrying, particularly if they don’t yet know how to fix the problem. Volvo needs to sort this out as soon as possible and get these cars off the road.’