NHTSA Complaint #10473697 — 2002 VOLVO S60

THERE WERE FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. AS WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM THE MALL, WE NOTICED A BRIEF INTERRUPTION IN THE LIGHTS AND RADIO. A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT CRANKED BACK UP IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. WE DROVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MORE MILES AND PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WE HEARD A SOUND LIKE AN ALARM, BUT IT WAS SO FAINT; BEFORE WE HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT FURTHER, THE CAB BEGAN TO FILL WITH BLACKISH GREY SMOKE INTO THE BACKSEAT AREA. WE ALL GOT OUT QUICKLY AND WALKED TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I NOTICED FLAMES BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT (WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED) AND TOLD MY HUSBAND. HE OPENED THE TRUNK (BURNING HIS FINGERTIPS), AND FLAMES SHOT UP INTO THE AIR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 BECAUSE THE FLAMES WERE HIGH AND FAST-MOVING. THE 911 DISPATCHER INSTRUCTED US TO STAY AWAY FROM THE CAR AND NOT TRY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT DUE TO THE OBVIOUS DANGERS OF A FAST-MOVING CAR FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AND BEGAN PUTTING THE FIRE OUT; HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS UP TO THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS NOT BURNED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED IT A LOSS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO ME AS OF YET. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, AND WE ARE WORRIED THAT VOLVO MAY HAVE MISSED ONE. FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, I AM REPORTING THIS SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR REMAINS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AWAITING INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT; HOWEVER, I AM HOPEFUL THAT EITHER VOLVO OR SOMEONE WHO DOES SAFETY INSPECTIONS WOULD CLAIM THE CAR TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE FURTHER. *TR