NHTSA Complaint #758194 — 1997 VOLVO 850

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.