At the very least, all owners get an extended fuel pump warranty.

Volvo is recalling 2001-2005 S80 models, 2001-2004 V70, S60 and XC70 models; and model year 2003-2005 XC90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and the U.S. territories.

The fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange when exposed to a hot climate and temperature cycling over time, and in combination with varying fuel quality.

Critics of such regional recalls note that potentially unsafe vehicles are left unaccounted for, as makers attempt to hold down the  cost of the action to areas where  most failures occur.

Vehicle owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the hot under hood environment, could result in a fire.

Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and, if it is the defective pump, replace it with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge.

The campaign is expected to begin during January 2010. Owners of older vehicles will be contacted first, and the recall will proceed in stages starting in March 2010 as parts become available.

Owners of vehicles that are not in the specified states will be given an extended warranty of ten years or 150,000 miles on the fuel pumps.

Owners may contact Volvo at 866-637-3774. Volvo safety recall number R220.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov.  NHTSA number  09V483.