Volvo Seat Belt Locking Retractor Could Malfunction

In June 2021 Volvo received information regarding a noncompliance investigation into a seat belt locking retractor malfunction in certain 2021-2022 XC, S and V model vehicles. The investigation report said that there may be a risk that certain seat belts with the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) have not been produced according to specifications. According to the defect report, out of tolerance levers in the ALR could cause the ALR to deactivate early.

"The seat belt assemblies in these vehicles have a feature that converts the retractor from an emergency locking retractor (ELR) to an automatic locking retractor (ALR). The seat belts convert to the ALR mode after the webbing has been fully withdrawn from the retractor. The system is designed so that as the seat belt is released into the retractor, the ALR function remains active so a child restraint seat can be tightly secured. However, in certain seat belt assemblies the ALR function deactivates early before the webbing is fully retracted."

Warning signs that the problem could exist in your vehicle include: “A vehicle owner who elects to use the seat belt instead of the LATCH system to secure a child restraint seat will notice that the audible clicking noise made when the ALR function is activated stops well before the seat belt webbing is fully retracted.”

Volvo owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealerships to have the seat belt assemblies inspected and replaced as necessary. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10111 and the NHTSA campaign number is 21V-682.