NHTSA Complaint #10030704 — 1996 VOLVO 850

THE ENTIRE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED BEFORE THE FUSEABLE LINK OPENED THE CIRCUIT. THIS CLEARLY IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN. IN FACT, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IF MY WIFE HAD NOT TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN SHE DID, DUE TO THE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE FAN, THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MOST LIKELY THE RESULTING FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR AS THE MELTED WIRING HARNESS IS DIRECTLY UNDER AND AROUND THE ENGINES FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE, AND WAS APPALLED BY HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING WAS FUSED TOGETHER. IF THE SAFETY DESIGN (FUSEABLE LINK) OF THE FAN CIRCUIT HAD WORKED PROPERLY THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT I SAW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY WIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN PERSONAL DANGER.I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO VOLVO AMERICA AND THEY CONTEND THAT A LOOSE FAN MOUNT CAUSED THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS AT A LOSE TO EXPLAIN THIS POSITION TO ME AS THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS RELEVENT TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED AS THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED DOWN.*AK