Who Can You Trust? Not Volvo Airbags

Volvo's popular models failed to inflate in two separate tests. The problem was identified in an 18 mph pole test. The test stimulates a car slamming sideways into a lamp post or tree. The Volvo's airbags did not inflate in a timely manner - not in enough time to save lives.

The previous V70 was Britain's top-selling large estate car in 2006. The new V70, which went on sale in September 2007, is set to attract 7,000 annual UK sales.

In the 2007 Volvo launch, one of the mail selling points was "safer than ever".

Volvo said the side airbags opened as required during their own testing and said there was no cause for alarm. Despite the airbags failing to inflate, the V70 won the maximum five stars for adult protection from Euro NCAP.

You have to wonder why Euro NCAP, the independent safety organization that tests and makes safety awards to European cars, still awarded Volvo and the V70 such an award even when the airbag does not inflate in a safety test.