NHTSA complaint: 1996 VOLVO 850 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, I SWITCHED THE SEAT HEATER ON AND DROVE AWAY. WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF DRIVING, A SHARP PAIN DEVELOPED IN MY RIGHT BUTTOCK. WITHIN SECONDS A TRAIL OF DARK SMOKE ROSE FROM THE SAME AREA. AFTER LIFTING MY BOTTOM OFF OF THE SEAT AND REALIZING THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SEAT I SHUTOFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE RESULT OF THE INCIDENT LEFT A BURN MARK ON MY PANTS AND A CIGARETTE SIZED HOLE IN MY SEAT CUSHION. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INVESTIGATION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTEE. THE COST OF THE NEW SEAT WARMER AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT CUSHION WAS 770 US DOLLARS. I REFUSED TO PAY AND ASKED THE DEALER TO SIMPLY DISCONNECT THE SEAT WARMER.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation