12:28 pm, July 22, 2019
NEARLY 70,000 Volvo cars in the UK are being recalled over a fire risk related to an engine problem, the manufacturer said today.
S60, S60 Cross Country, S80, S90, V40, V40 Cross Country, V60, V60 Cross Country, V70, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC60, XC70 and XC90 models with a two-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine and built between 2014 and 2019 are said to be potentially affected by the issue, with the 69,616 UK cars among 507,000 being recalled globally for the free fix.
A spokesman for the Swedish company said its investigations found that ‘in very rare cases’ a piece of plastic fitted as part of the engine can ‘melt and deform’.
He added: ‘In the most extreme cases, there is a possibility that a localised engine bay fire may occur.’
The Geely-owned company told the PA news agency it had received reports of ‘a very small number’ of cars catching fire, but no-one had been injured. Volvo said it was contacting all customers whose vehicles were affected.
Drivers are being told it is safe to use their car if it doesn’t show any symptoms indicating a problem, such as an engine warning light illuminating, a lack of power or an ‘unusual smell’.
A second letter will be sent confirming when a solution to the problem is available.
Volvo said it notified the relevant authorities about the issue ‘as soon as it was identified’. It apologised to customers for the inconvenience, stating that it was taking ‘full responsibility to ensure the highest quality and safety standards of our cars’.
Dave Breith, chief executive of fire extinguisher firm Firexo, said: ‘A trusted car manufacturer like Volvo being forced to recall cars due to fire safety concerns serves as a stark reminder to all motorists that they must take immediate steps to protect their safety.
‘Our research has found that 81 per cent of UK adults do not have a fire extinguisher in their car, leaving them at risk in the event of a fire. Last year, fire and rescue services attended 21,802 vehicle fires in the UK – that’s 59 fires a day.
‘This recall is a good example that motorists cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand, thinking it won’t happen to them. It might – and they would be wise to be ready.’
It emerged in April that Vauxhall was recalling 235,000 Zafira cars for a third time after a new source of fires was discovered.
The Zafira B cars were previously recalled in two stages in 2015 and 2016 after campaigners claimed more than 300 had caught fire, often leaving their occupants with just a few seconds to escape before their vehicles were destroyed.
Vauxhall said the latest recall affected cars built between 2005 and 2014 and without electronic climate control.
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