Heated Seats recall

Just this morning received a letter from my dealer asking me to bring in
my '96 855 for a heated seat wiring fix.

This after I wrote to Volvo UK last month telling them of the US safety
recall for the same thing which was dated last year - what an uncanny
co-incidence!

I had read on the web that the wiring will only be replaced IF damage
has not already been caused and the seats are still working.

If the seats no longer work, the "repair" work under the recall notice
won't be carried out.

I'm no lawyer, but if the wiring is a known problem (hence the recall)
and damage is caused because of it, then how can Volvo escape
responsibility for the subsequent repair?

Anyone qualified to comment?

AB

 

Often the failure causing the seat heat not to work is not in the area
of the wiring covered by the recall. The heater pad is a common point
of failure, the recall covers some of the wiring under the seat.

However, that begs the question: If they don't do the recall operation
because the seat heater is not working, what happens if you have the
seat heater fixed at a later date?

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

(USA)

I had my '96 850 Turbo Sedan repaired under the recall. Almost a year ago.
My passenger seat worked fine the drivers seat was DOA. I had already
determined that the crimped wire fastener going to the seat bottom had
separated. I could have fixed it myself but "they" replaced the entire
wiring harness for the seats and everything else save the elements
themselves..

FYI

 

What years were covered by the recall? I have a 95 850 turbo wagon and the
heated seats no longer work.

 

I just called a Dealer and they put the VIN in thier computer and it
showed to be covered. I *think* '95 was covered also, not sure.
FYI

 

I've been struggling with the heated seats on my '97 960 sedan for quite
while... do you have any info on the scope of the recall?

Thanks,
Scott

 

I was told it was 96 and 97 models, but have nothing in writing... best bet
is give a dealer a call, and they should be able to tell you.

Mark

 

The recall will not repair a seat heater that is not working part of the
recall is to check the heater grids with a ohm meter & note on the back of
the repair order if they are good or bad . The recall installs a new
thermostatic control relay this replaces the thermostat in the seat bottom