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Flaming Volvos

Mike of Stroud, UK (12/24/04):
Initially I complained to my local Volvo Garage when the vehicle would not start. The "call-out" engineer could not diagnose the fault ... thought it was the Injector Heaters ... looked at a few fuses, eventually gave me "easy-start" aerosol to squirt into the Air intake! Further complaints to Volvo followed a 36,000 mile service when the car would still not start. The car was returned under warranty to have all the fuel injectors replaced along with fuel lines. At last the car started!

Volvo • Flaming Volvos • Fuel leak recall • Other complaints

A week later returning from a long-distance business meeting, the car burst into flames and was totally destroyed ... me nearly with it! A forensic report suggests the intensive fire was "highly likely" caused by faulty component or poor workmanship. Volvo denies any liability ... they claim the fire was possibly caused by "cigarette ingestion." What is that?

Wendy of Glen Allen VA (10/6/03):
The "Volvo Saved My Life"....ha! My NEW Volvo V70 with only 7000 miles almost took my life as well as my 18 month old son's life! I loved my car, it was the the best I'd ever owned until Labor Day Weekend 2003. I was simply driving down a heavily driven four lane road when another driver motioned me to pull aside. Thinking I may have flat tire, I pull over into a turn lane.

As I begin to get out of the car another driver on the other side of the median had pulled over and was out of her car yelling for me to "Get out of the car, it's on FIRE!!!" I had just dropped my infant son off 10 minutes before, had he been with me I seriously don't think I could have been able to remove him from his car seat without one of getting injured...or worse. Luckily he was not in the car and I immediately ran to the woman who I now know saved my life!

When I looked back the car had flames shooting out from under the driver and passenger seats from the under carriage. Within 5 minutes we watched as the flames engulfed the car and the gas tank exploded! Unbelievable! I was able to take nothing with me, I lost everything in the car down to my purse! The saddest part about my story is that NOTHING in the Volvo warned me I was ON FIRE!! To think what could have happened makes me sick and has given me many nights of nightmares.

My husband notified our local Volvo dealership who in turn contacted Volvo North America. On September 23, 2003 we received a letter from a Jaye Linnin that stated "A Volvo Field Technical Specialist thoroughly examined your vehicle. There was extensive damage to your Volvo and based on our inspection and available information, we did not conclude a Volvo product related condition as the cause of the situation you reported."

I am dumbfounded! I would like an explanation as to why my NEW Volvo caught fire as I am driving 35 mph and then burnt to the ground!! I am extremely upset my the way Volvo North America responded to us in their letter. I need to know WHY! My huband called Ms. Linnin, she had just "stepped out for lunch" and would call him back, this never happened.

I received this e-mail response on 10/6/03 from her after she received the above.

Dear Ms. Galleher,

We are sorry our previous reply was not acceptable and we realize that there may be times when that may occur. Again, we regret to learn of your unfortunate experience with your 2002 Volvo V70. As we previously stated, there was extensive damage to your Volvo and based on our available information for the inspection, we did not conclude a Volvo product related condition as the cause of the situation you reported. While we regret you may not concur with our determination, unfortunately, we are not in a position to further consider this matter.

Sincerely, Jaye Linnin

Mike of Prospect CT (6/25/04):
2002 Volvo S80, 18K miles, engine fire. No previous problems. Burst into flames after driving 3 miles. Total loss.

Mihail of Oltenita, Calarasi, Romania (11/17/03):
We are a Romanian company which bought, for the board of directors, on June, 2002, 3 cars VOLVO S 60 D 5‚ through your Romanian dealer – EURO INTER TRADE CORP S.R.L. ROMANIA. We had a very big disillusion: we bought the most safe car we know at this price, we paid more than US $100,000.00, and the final result is serious troubles, very long periods without cars and the most serious trouble on 11/12/2003 one of the cars burned and caused burnings at the hands at one of directors.

This is too much for us: we intend to arraign your company and your Romanian dealer who assure the service in Romania. Our cars passed very long period of times in service, because we had technical problems and the quality of the repairs of the Romanian service was very lowest – we left the service and after 3 kilometres the car has serious deteriorated. The car passed three weeks in service, and they assured to our company a car for only one week. In that moment they worked at fuel-injector and after some weeks the car burned and caused burnings at one of our directors. There are more details with other cars but we don’t intend to bore you.

We desire only one thing: like you to understand you sell a brand and a good car which is made at Belgium or somewhere else must be all like as a car made at Goteborg, and also don’t forget we didn’t buy three second-hand cars – we bought three new cars and we want to have the best conditions for service.

Perhaps the fire was related to a fuel leak which was the subject of a recent Volvo recall?

Bill of Hanover NH (3/7/03):
I am wondering if other owners of Volvo V70, 1999, have had an engine fire, especially following the installation of new brakes and troubles with the sensor module? Our car was totaled - large fire; entire engine burnt! 5 year old and dad quite scared too!

Toby of Green Pond NJ writes (7/19/02):
Our 2000 Volvo XC V70 caught fire with both our children under two years old in it. The fire department put the fire out and the children were removed uninjured. Volvo will take no responsibility for this fire despite the fact that the car is under warranty and a leased car. Volvo has held the car for five weeks while they conducted an investigation. There was no offer of a loaner car.

They have tried to blame driving it in the wrong gear to the oil cap not being installed correctly. (No sign of any oil on the exterior of the engine). Now they believe it was from a mouse nest. This car was being driven a hundred miles a day prior to the fire. Ultimately Volvo is taking no reponsibility for this fire despite the fact the coolant bottle has exploded. The bottle was not damaged in the fire. I do not know who to turn to now. Incidentally this is the second time this car has caught fire.

Six weeks lose of use of a car I am paying $500 a month lease payment on, with no end in sight. The older child screams now everytime she is put in a car. Volvo will not terminate the lease.

Yash of Denver (7/18/03):
We purchased a Volvo Cross Country in May 2001 from Rickenbaugh Volvo in Denver, CO. For the past year, there has been a bad gasoline-type smell in the passenger compartment. If you leave clothes in the car for a day, it smells of gas. We have tried to get the problem fixed thru Rickenbaugh's service department. While they have been very courteous, they have not been able to smell the problem, let alone fix it. We are worried the fumes could be toxic and harm us or our two year old daughter.

Breathing gasoline fumes is definitely not healthful. Of even greater concern is the possibility of fire. Yash should insist that the problem be resolved. If it is not, he should consult a Lemon Law attorney.

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