NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA06-006: VOLVO XC90 BATTERY CABLE FAILURES

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA06-006 on March 21, 2006 and closed it on June 14, 2007. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Volvo XC90 for it and links recall 07V-221 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA06-006 (also written EA06006)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed June 14, 2007
Opened: March 21, 2006
Closed: June 14, 2007
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Volvo Car USA, LLC
Components: Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables; Equipment — Mechanical — Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Recall linked by NHTSA: 07V-221: JACK CRANK HANDLE LOCATION INSPECTION/LABEL, reported May 25, 2007
Vehicles and equipment: 2005 Volvo XC90

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA06-006.

try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.

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.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA06-006. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Volvo

Volvo XC90
- 2005

All Volvo recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Volvo VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA06-006

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.