What 11 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Volvo XC90 Recharge

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11006405

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START, IT STARTED TO SMOKE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD TO BE CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VOLVO SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY STARTER. THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE WITH NO DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502462