NHTSA Investigation EA06006

VOLVO XC90 BATTERY CABLE FAILURES

DURING PE05-057 AND EA06-006 ODI IDENTIFIED TWO CONDITIONS INVOLVING THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005 VOLVO XC90 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE:(1) POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE GROUNDING TO THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING; AND (2) MISPLACED JACK CRANK HANDLES UNDER THE BATTERY BRACKET AFTER BATTERY SERVICE/MAINTENANCE.DURING PE05-057 VOLVO INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL TO CORRECT THE FIRST CONDITION IN APPROXIMATELY 10,529 MY 2005 XC90 AND S80 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIX-CYLINDER ENGINES (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-529).IN A MAY 18, 2007 LETTER, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD BE CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE SECOND CONDITION IN APPROXIMATELY 42.211 MY 2005 XC90 VEHICLES BY INSPECTING THE JACK CRANK HANDLE FOR PROPER POSITIONING AND AFFIXING A WARNING LABEL ON THE BATTERY BRACKET TO WARN OPERATORS NOT TO PLACE THE HANDLE BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND BATTERY BRACKET (NHTSA RECALL NO. 07V-221). THE ACTIONS BY VOLVO ADDRESS BOTH CONDITIONS THAT POSE A RISK OF BATTERY CABLE FIRE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE OTHER BATTERY CABLE CONDITIONS REVIEWED DURING EA06-006 PRESENT HAVE RESULTED IN ANY FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN ANY ONE OF THE ISSUES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.