1997 Volvo 850

CONSUMER'S COMPLAINT REGARDING RECALL CAMPAIGN 112. *MR (RECALL # 02V314000) THE SEAT HEATER DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE WHICH INDICATED THAT IN THE INSTANCE WHERE THE SEAT HEATERS DIDN'T OPERATE, THE CORRECTIVE ACTION MAY NOT RESTORE FULL FUNCTIONALITY. THE REMEDY DID NOT RESTORE THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION. THERE WAS ALSO AN A/C PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT HEATER SHORTED, CAUSING THE IGNITION OF A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. OUR VOLVO DEALER DESCRIBED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS NORMAL USE, I.E., FEET OR OTHER ITEMS UNDER THE SEAT HAD KNOCKED THE CONNECTION LOOSE. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, ALTHOUGH OUR 10 MONTH OLD INFANT WAS IN THE CAR, STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT (IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR SEAT) WHILE THE DRIVER WAS OPENING A RESIDENTIAL GATE. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE DRIVER NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DRIVER RAN BACK TO THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER HAD LEFT THE FRONT DOOR OPEN WHILE LEAVING THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE GATE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR BABY OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE SHE HAD INHALED A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WE DROVE A VOLVO FOR SAFETY, BUT NO LONGER. VOLVO'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BUT RESPONDED WITH ONLY AN APOLOGY AND NO RECOGNITION THAT THERE MAY BE A SAFETY DEFECT.

FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH SMOKE VERY QUICKLY, THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED FROM EUROPE THEREFORE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER CAME AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT WITH THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED LITTLE DAMAGE BECAUSE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS AVAILABLE AND THINKS THEY SHOULD BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN U.S. VEHICLES ALSO. NLM

HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE; FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM RESTAURANT BY WHICH VEHICLE WAS STOPPED; FIRE DAMAGED THE SEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, STEERING COLUMN, FRONT DASH AND STEERING WHEEL. CARPETING OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ARM REST, ETC MAY HAVE OCCURED. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO VOLVO AND THEY ARE SENDING OUT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE CAR ON 10/25/00.

DRIVER SEATBACK FRAME BROKE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGN. SEAT DID NOT ENTIRELY COLLAPSE, BUT SEAT DOES WOBBLE NOW AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISES. DEALER ADVISED $650 PARTS AND LABOR TO CORRECT PROBLEM. VOLVO ADVISES THEY WILL NOT ASSIST SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS REPAIR IS BEING PAID FOR BY MY RYAN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE SEATBEAT COULD HAVE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.