Volvo 850 Heated Seat Recall

Yea they are replacing most of the components of the heated seat system
including the wiring harness. Just take it in, it won't cost a dime and if
your lucky like me, you'll be back in the heated seat business!

FWIW

 

So today I received a notice recalling my 1996 850R for the seat warmer.
Apparently it may be too hot and might malfunction. No kidding -- it hasn't
been functional for about 5 years now (along with literally about 10 other
things, but that's another story for another time). But I was notified that
the recall might not fix my seat warmer if it's not working right now.

Any tips on how to get them to fix the seat warmers during this recall?

 

What years does the recall apply to? I have a '95 850 wagon with heated
seats that don't work.

Gus

 

[JW] (Tue, 20 Jan 2004 21:23:53 -0500):

Hi, any more info on years, models of the 850 that is affected?

 

The recall involves installing a new wiring harness & a new thermostat part
of the recall is the technician uses a ohm meter to check the heating pads
if the pads are no good the recall does not cover repairing them I will post
a copy of the service bulletin tonight
Glenn

 

Interesting.

So let me get this straight... if the heat mechanism has already blown --
probably because of the defect that they are recalling them for -- they
won't replace it but if the heat mechanism has not already blown yet but
might blow because of the defect they will replace them.

Makes complete sense to me. Yet another reason I will never buy another
Volvo.

 

I looked on my recall letter and it says 1996 and 1997 850 sedans and
wagons.

 

You're SOL. Applies to 1996 and 1997 sedans and wagons.

 

So yours didn't work, you took it in, and they fixed it?

 

[JW] (Wed, 21 Jan 2004 08:52:35 -0500):

Found the recall on www.alldata.com, I'll talk to mye garage

 

Hi Guys,

A couple of points regarding the recall... firstly is it a worldwide recall?
I'm assuming it is... if so, my dad's got an 850 Estate which was registered
in the UK in January 1996 - Chances are it was manufactured shortly before
registration. Is it likely it's included in the recall? I'll probably just
take it in and see what they say though. Drivers side hasn't worked in
years - shame it sounds like that won't change though!

Mark

 

[Mark Seeley] (Thu, 22 Jan 2004 00:09:34 -0000):

My August-95-registered 850 is a '96-model.. So yes, your dads car is
probably a 96

Dunno if its worldwide, but I guess so..

 

From what I understand this recall involves melting connectors that are
external to, but located under the seat. So if your heater has failed
because of melting of these connectors, then the recall will fix the
heat. If the heater has failed because of heater pad failure (more
common, I think), then the recall will not fix it.

--
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.)