NHTSA Complaint #10598019 — 2009 VOLVO V70

SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, 4.5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING VOLVO DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY IN SWEDEN. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED REGULARLY FOR 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE LIGHT REMAINED ON INDEFINITELY. WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING, THE ERROR CODE INDICATED A FAULTY OCCUPANT WEIGHT SENSOR (OWS) EMBEDDED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NO LONGER DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WILL NO LONGER IDENTIFY A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS ALSO DISABLES THE DRIVER (PRIMARY) AIR BAG, AS WELL AS THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I CONTACTED VOLVO USA SHORTLY AFTER THE 5 YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY EMPHATICALLY CLAIMED THAT THIS EGREGIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR CONCERN. RESPECTFULLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THIS FAULTY OWS THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS ERROR. *JS