Volvo to recall S60 sedans due to locks breaking in heat

The Swedish automaker in the United States is forced to deal with this problem a second time. Due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, the door lock springs on Volvo S60L sedans break, which can cause the doors to open while driving. Not to mention the fact that in this state the car and the property in it remain defenseless against intruders.

Information about the recall campaign for more than 2.7 thousand S60L sedans of the 2017 model year was published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The vehicles affected by the recall were assembled between November 24, 2016 and April 8, 2017.

The essence of the defect is in the latch mechanism. If the car is left in a hot climate for a long time, the lock pawl retaining spring will lose strength over time. At a critical moment – when opening the door – the latch may simply break off. The door stops closing, leaving the interior unprotected. However, Volvo accepts that the door may open spontaneously while driving – for example, when driving through a roundabout or when reversing. If the passenger is not wearing a seat belt at this moment, he may fall out of the passenger compartment.

The story of the unusual malfunction stretches back to 2019: then Volvo had already recalled cars for a similar reason, but by the end of 2025, Volvo again began to receive complaints from owners of cars that were not affected by the previous campaign. Dealers are required to replace all four door locks with reinforced, modernized ones. Those who repaired the locks at their own expense were promised compensation.