Other Engine Info: Transmission: auto and manual, w/o EGR, w/air pump, w/OBDII, w/elec. control evap., Motronic 4.4, w/RULo, TLEV
Other Restraint System Info: Dual Airbags (SRS)
Plant City: Ghent
Plant Country: Belgium
Pretensioner: Yes
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1997
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
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.
1997
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED IN TO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL GO IN THAT DIRECTION WITHOUT CONSUMER PUSHING CLUTCH AND GAS IN, VEHICLE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME, CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING ASSIST. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE, AND DRIVER DOOR AND FENDER WERE DAMAGED, THE DEALER STATED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO INSTALL A SAFETY SWITCH ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *YH