NHTSA complaint: 1994 VOLVO 960 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1994 VOLVO 960 ON AUGUST 12,2006 ON A CONGESTED 4 LANE ROAD. SHE MOVED THE DRIVERS SEAT FORWARD WITH THE ELECTRIC POWERED SWITCH AND NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE SEAT. SHE LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AND SAW FLAMES. SHE WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE ONTO A SIDE STREET AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND WHO IS A CERTIFIED BMW/ VOLVO TECHNICIAN, TRACED THE WIRES AND FOUND A SHORT IN THE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTENSIVE, REQUIRING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH FIRE RETARDANT AND WATER. THE SEAT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BURNED. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation