Volvo Cars is rolling out a new software update to 6,572 vehicles in China due to defects in steering column sealing and front seatbelt systems that could pose safety risks, according to a filing with the country’s market regulator.
The physical recall in China follows a June software update by Volvo Cars in the US covering more than 14,000 electric and plug-in hybrid models, which were found to have a software flaw that could cause brake failure.
A month earlier, and also in the US, another software update was rolled out by the carmaker to over 400,000 vehicles to fix a rearview camera issue.
The latest recall in China mainly covers 5,796 domestically built S90 sedans manufactured between April 24 and August 21 this year.
Additionally, it also includes 723 imported XC90 SUVs and 53 imported V90 Cross Country wagons made between June 17 and August 20, the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.
The regulator said some of the recalled S90s may have sealing glue applied incorrectly on the steering column, raising the risk of water ingress that could damage wiring in the floor area and disable safety systems.
The imported XC90 and V90CC vehicles are being recalled due to a potential defect in the torsion bar of the front seatbelt retractor’s locking mechanism, which could impair seatbelt performance in a crash.
Volvo’s Daqing manufacturing unit and its Shanghai sales subsidiary will carry out the recall. Dealers will reapply sealing glue or replace affected seatbelt components free of charge.
The automaker’s global deliveries slipped 9% in August to 48,029 vehicles, marking another month of sluggish demand for its electric models.
Sales of electrified cars — which include battery-electric and plug-in hybrids — totaled 20,715 units, down 17% from a year earlier and representing 43% of overall volume.
Battery-electric vehicles bore the brunt of the drop, tumbling 28% to 9,604 units. The company, majority-owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding, is preparing to refresh its lineup with the forthcoming ES90 sedan and a redesigned EX60 SUV due next year.
