Recall 16V918 affects 376 2017 Volvo V60, XC60, and S60 vehicles for a side air bag initiator defect. Repair is free at franchised Volvo dealers.
Volvo is recalling 376 2017 V60, XC60, and S60 vehicles because the driver and front passenger seat-mounted side air bag inflator initiators can fail to ignite in a crash. If an initiator fails, the side air bag will not deploy, increasing injury risk, and Volvo dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front-seat side air bags in these 2017 Volvo V60, XC60, and S60 vehicles are built into the seat area to help protect occupants in a side-impact crash. Each air bag uses an inflator initiator, a small ignition device that starts the chemical reaction needed to fill the air bag quickly when the crash sensors call for deployment.
Volvo traced the defect to the generant mix ratio inside some initiators. That mix is part of what lets the initiator ignite correctly. When the mix is outside specification, the initiator can fail to light, and one or more of the driver or front passenger side air bags can fail to deploy during a crash.
Replacement air bags use initiators produced with the proper generant mix ratio. There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag system can look normal until a crash occurs and the side air bag is needed.
Who's affected?
Covers three 2017 Volvo model lines with the same air bag system component.
| 2017 Volvo V60 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2017 Volvo XC60 | air bag system |
| 2017 Volvo S60 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 376 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the front seat side air bag inflator initiator fails, that air bag will not deploy when needed, increasing injury risk. There is no listed warning sign before failure, so confirm your VIN and schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Volvo dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017 Volvo V60, XC60, or S60 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volvo dealer to schedule the free front-seat side-air-bag inspection and replacement if needed.
- Bring the recall notice if Volvo mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V918 when you call.
- Call Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 with questions about the dealer repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volvo technician inspects the driver and front passenger seat side air bags and replaces the front seat side air bag assemblies if the inflator initiators are affected. The inspection, replacement parts, and labor are free under the recall. Volvo has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who paid out of pocket before the recall repair. Bring repair invoices and proof of payment to the service desk, or contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 16, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| December 21, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| January 6, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 13, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 10, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 10, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V918?
Recall 16V918 covers 376 2017 Volvo V60, XC60, and S60 vehicles with front-seat side air bag inflator initiators that can fail to ignite during a crash. If that happens, the side air bag will not deploy, increasing injury risk. Volvo dealers will inspect and replace affected air bags for free.
What should I do if my 2017 Volvo V60, XC60, or S60 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V918. If it is, contact a franchised Volvo dealer to schedule the front-seat side air bag inspection. Reference recall number 16V918 or Volvo recall R89712 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Volvo dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front-seat side air bags free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at any franchised Volvo dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that a front-seat side air bag fails to deploy during a crash. The recall involves inflator initiators in the driver and front passenger seat-mounted side air bags. A non-deploying side air bag increases the risk of injury for the person in that seat.
What if I bought my 2017 Volvo used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific V60, XC60, or S60 is included, then call a franchised Volvo dealer and reference recall 16V918 or Volvo recall R89712.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V918000 |
|---|---|
| Volvo customer service | 1-800-458-1552 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V918 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V918000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →