Seat fires

An NHTSA Engineering Analysis into Volvo vehicles. Closed 18 December 2002.

Investigation
EA02019
Type
Engineering Analysis
Opened
22 August 2002
Closed
18 December 2002

What NHTSA investigated

Volvo is conducting a safety recall based on its analysis of complaints and technical information developed during its investigation.volvo'ssurvey of vehicles routinely brought in for maintenance at east-coast dealerships produced evidence that bare metal wires (that provide support for the seat bottom) can contact the thermostat and electrical wiresin or beneath the seat cushion.this can result in an electrical short.volvo confirmed in testing that if such a condition is present, the short to the wire seat support could cause burning of the seat cushion without activating (opening) the seat heater fuse.volvo will replace the entire thermostat assembly with an electronic timer delay unit.

The recall that followed

  1. Volvo — Seats: Seat Heater/Cooler02V31400019 November 200265,000 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
Volvo8501996–1997
Volvo8541996–1997
Volvo8551996–1997

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.