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.

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

THE UNIROYAL FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE THAT I RECENTLY SPOKE TO BY TELEPHONE WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE OF ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES THAT I PURCHASED IN MAY 1999. I FELT THAT IT WAS CRUCIAL TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA REGARDING MY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE UNIROYAL TIRES, SO THAT I MAY PREVENT A FELLOW CITIZEN(S) FROM SUFFERING FROM INJURY AND/OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SAME TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BET2 BEUU TIRESIZE: P205/55R16)

THIS IS SIMILAR TO PRIOR COMPLAINTS: 528520, 533799,848379,869541. WHEN DRIVING THRU A PUDDLE/IN RAIN, AT TIMES, ALL DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH AND POWER IS LOST INCLUDING TO THE STEERING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR PUMP SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT NO. 728130. I UNDERSTAND THAT WATER CAN GET INTO THE PUMP CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. ARE BOTH THESE PROBLEMS RELATED TO LIMITED "SPLASH GUARD" PROTECTION UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT?

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THIS IS A RECALL ITEM UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V235000. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE DATE RANGE ON THE RECALL NOTICE AS VERIFIED BY VOLVO'S "CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN". HOWEVER, WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE RECALLED ITEM THE VOLVO DEALER (355 - ROCKVILLE, MD) REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ITEM WITHOUT COST. THE VOLVO DEAL STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PRESENT ANYTHING TO ADEQUATELY DEMONSTATE THAT FACT. IN SPITE OF (1) THE FAILED ITEM WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL, (2) THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE RECALL TIMEFRAME; THE OWNER WAS FORCED TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL.*AK