Volvo Recall: 2.2 Million Cars Affected by 'Extremely Rare' Seatbelt Malfunction

Volvo has issued its largest-ever recall, involving 2.2 million cars worldwide that could be susceptible to an "extremely rare" seatbelt malfunction.

Reuters reported that the recall affects cars built between 2006 and 2019. The issue concerns front seatbelts. According to a statement released by the car company on Wednesday, over time, the seatbelts can become worn and be less effective in restraining. "The cable may, under certain rare circumstances and user behaviours, over time suffer from fatigue. This could eventually cause damage to the cable, resulting in reduced seat belt restraint function," the company said, according to Reuters. Volvo reportedly said that no injuries have been reported due to the issue, and that this recall is meant to be preventive.

"We have seen that this wire can be subject to wear and tear under special conditions," company spokesperson Stefan Elfstrom told a Swedish public radio station, according to The Associated Press. The recall does not affect current Volvo models, the Swedish manufacturer said.

Volvo listed the S60's (built from 2010 to 2018), S60CC (2015 to 2018), V60 (2010 to 2018), V60CC (2014 to 2018), XC60 (2008 to 2016), V70 (2007 to 2016), XC70 (2007 to 2016), S80's (2006 to 2016) as the models that are being recalled, according to LBC News.

The car company will reportedly repair the issue at no charge to the car's owners. Volvo will contact owners and ask them to bring their vehicles to their nearest Volvo dealer to receive repairs to the seatbelt. While owners wait to get their cars repaired, the company has advised drivers to make sure that the seatbelts are lined up with with the backrest in a vertical position, to minimize the risk of damage.

Volvo said that safety was a prime concern and apologized for the inconvenience in a statement to U.K. outlet Kent Live. "We do not compromise on safety, and always take full responsibility to ensure the highest quality and safety standards of our cars," Volvo said. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers, and are grateful for their cooperation as we look to perform this precautionary action."

Volvo did not respond to Newsweek's emailed request for comment in time for publication.

The mass recall is the second major recall the company has made this year. In March, the carmaker recalled over 120,000 cars and SUVs due to a hardware issue in the automatic emergency braking systems that may not recognize people or objects, according to Consumer Reports. The company recalled nine different models built between November 2018 and March 2020. There had been no reports of injury due to this issue.