While stopped at a traffic light, smoke/steam was noticed coming from under the hood. The car was pulled into a shopping center parking lot, the engine shut off and the hood was opened. The electric cooling fan was smoking and had stopped running. While examining the fan, the radiator ruptured spraying coolant, causing second degree burns. As the cooling system has no pressure release mechanism, the weakest point in the system was caused to fail. An assistant service manager for Volvo mentioned that it is common for the radiator neck to rupture with age and due to the fact that there is torque applied at this point by the radiator hose.

- Mitchellville, MD, USA