1998 Volvo S70

OVER MAXIMUM "30" SECOND PERIOD, VEHICLE BUCKED, THEN INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND BEGAN BLINKING, THEN THROTTLE STUCK IN "FULL" POSITION, THEN BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEEL WELLS, THEN FLAMES VISIBLE FROM FROM GRILL OVER HOOD OF CAR, THEN VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKES AT WHICH TIME FLAMES WERE TWO-THREE FEET HIGH FROM GRILL AND WHEEL WELL(S) AREA OF CAR - EXITED IMMEDIATELY - CAR TOTAL LOSS ..... HAVE SINCE BEEN MADE AWARE OF "ANOTHER" '98 S70 FIRE WITH VERY SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF FAILURE EVENTS AND RESULT - VOLVO CONTACTED AND CLAIMS EVIDENCE OF ANIMAL NEST UNDER HOOD (ASSISTANCE DENIED) - CINNCINATI INSURANCE (MY CARRIER) HIRED & CONDUCTED PROFESSIONAL/INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATION WITH RESULTS PENDING ...... HAVE FULL SET OF PHOTOS - GENERAL COMMENT: IF THERE WERE AN ELDERLY PERSON, DIABLED PERSON OR CHILD STRAPPED IN CHILDSEAT RIDING IN VEHICLE, UNABLE TO REACT/MOVE SO QUICKLY, RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!!!!!

I AM AWARE OF 2 OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS SAME VEHICLE (YR. MAKE AND MODEL). ALL HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS GONE BAD IN THE LAST MONTH. THE 2 DEALERS I'VE CONTACTED SAY THAT THERE IS A LONG WAITING LIST FOR THIS PART! YOU'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN GET IT (NOT KNOWING IF YOU HAVE ABS OR NOT I SUPPOSED)! ALSO ANOTHER DECEPTIVE/DANGEROUS PART OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS ARE INCONSISTANT. ON SOME TRIPS IT COMES ON AND ON OTHERS IT DOESN'T. IT NEVER STAYS ON. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW IF YOU SHOULD PUMP THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY OR NOT!*AK

AT TIME OF FIRE, DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON FOR LIGHT OUT AND THAT CAR WAS IN LOW GEAR, BUT CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN IN LOW GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. NO IINDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON TO INDICATE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED OR LOW IN ANY FLUIDS. I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THROUGH LOW GEARS TO REMOVE LOW GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT, BUT THAT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. I PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I TURNED ENGINE BACK ON, AT FIRST THE LOW GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON, BUT WITHIN ASHORT DISTANCE THE LOW GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN NORMAL DRIVE GEAR AND NO FEELING THAT CAR WAS ACTUALLY IN A LOW GEAR. *AK

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, TO DEALER 25 TIMES. DASHBOARD LIGHT WOULD COME ON, INDICATING THAT HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING WHEN IN FACT THEY WERE. *AK DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD A BULB AND SOCKET PROBLEM, TAILLIGHT BULB FAILED, SIGNAL LIGHTS FLASH VERY FAST, SIDE SIGNALS SOCKETS AND BULBS SHORTED, 4 RUNNING LIGHT CONTACTS MELTED, FRONT HEADLIGHT SHORTED, LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT INOPERABLE, AND BULB INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP, MASTER WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH FAULTY, AND SPEAKERS DISTORTED. SEAT BELT PLASTIC PART CRACKED. TRANSMISSION STICKS ON LOWE GEAR, HAPPENED TWICE. GAS LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN TANK IS FULL. WASHER FLUID INIDCATOR ILLUMINATED, WASHER JETS INOPERABLE, WIPER BLADS REPLACED, RIGHT SIDE MIRROR DID NOT ADJUST ALL THE WAY OUT. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WORN, ROTORS REPLACED, BRAKES CAUSE SCREECHING NOISES. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CABLE UNDER ENGINE LOOSE. HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT HUB, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT STABILIZER LINKS. MUDFLAPS LOOSE. EVAP VALVE REPLACED. *SLC