NHTSA Complaint #10510186 — 2004 VOLVO V70

THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT-HEATER. WHEN ACTIVATED, ON THE LOWEST OF 2 SETTINGS, THE OCCUPANT OF THE DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT SEAT EXPERIENCES A BURNING-PAIN SENSATION IN THE RIGHT-REAR AREA OF THE THIGH, AFTER 60-90 SECONDS OF THE SEAT HEATER BEING ACTIVATED VIA DASH BUTTON. THE OWNER OF THE CAR WORRIES THAT: 1.) ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION OF THE DRIVERS-SIDE SEAT HEATER, WITH NO OCCUPANT IN THAT SEAT, COULD RESULT IN THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE LEATHER AND PADDING OF THE SEAT, AS WELL AS COMBUSTION LEADING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CAR. 2.) ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION OF THE SEAT-HEATER WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT SEAT COULD RESULT IN, SUDDEN AND EXTREME, DISCOMFORT TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR, RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE PHYSICAL REACTION TO PAIN, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE AUTOMOBILE TO LEAVE THE ROAD, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. 3.) THE VALUE OF THE CAR TO BE DECREASED UPON POTENTIAL SALE OF THE CAR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SEAT DOES NOT HEAT AS INTENDED, AND ADDITIONALLY POSES A DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT THIS APPARATUS' FAILURE TO OPERATE AS INTENDED IS IN NO PART DUE TO THE OWNERS FOLLOWING OF RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES, WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS A "DEFECT" BY THE POTENTIAL BUYER, THUS DEVALUING THE CAR, IS WORRISOME. A FIRE CAUSED INADVERTENTLY, OR SUDDEN PAIN CAUSING A VEHICLE OPERATOR TO INVOLUNTARILY TAKE HIS/HER WHOLE FOCUS OFF OF THE TASK OF DRIVING, CERTAINLY CONSTITUTES A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE. AN ISSUE, AFFECTING THE IMMEDIATE VEHICLES' DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS, AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. VOLVO SUBMODEL: V70 "R" . *TR