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We found the following complaints for VOLVO 850 (1996)

Read complaints for VOLVO 850 (1996)


While driving 25-30mph and without warning involved in a side swiped collision. Upon impact, air bags not to deploy consumersustained major body injuries.dealer has been notified however unable to remedy the problem.

While driving at about 15-20 mph consumer was making a turn when another vehicle hitconsumer's vehicleand it flipped a few times. Upon impact,none of the air bags deployed. Contacted dealer. Please provide further information.

Driving at speed 15mph, right rear tire exploded, causing loss of control of vehicle, impact media strip, at 12:00 position, dual airbags did not deploy.

Both airbag's deployed after running over a manhole that had it's cover missing, breaking the front windshield, and injured the driver's right wrist. There was rear suspension damage.

The vehicle was involved in a major accident involving direct impact to the drivers side, the drivers door-side air bag failed to deploy.consumer stated that, this was the side air bag, which is supposed to deploy upward between the drivers door and the drivers seat. *yd

The vehicle was involved in a major accident involving direct impact to the drivers side, the drivers door-side air bag failed to deploy.consumer stated that, this was the side air bag, which is supposed to deploy upward between the drivers door and the drivers seat. *yd

An electrical short, causing the abs brakes to operate randomly, and alsoseat belt indicator works intermittently.

The contact owns a 1996 volvo 850. The contact stated that when traveling over different deviations on the road, the rear end of the vehicle would fish tail. In addition, the vehicle would sporadically stall without warning. The contact would have to receive a jump start in order to restart the vehicle each time the vehicle stalled. The dealer was notified who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact tried contacting the manufacturer via web mail but to no avail. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The current mileage was 151,805 and the failure mileage was approximately 150,805. Updated 03/02/11 the consumer stated the trunk lid latch was faulty. The windshield wiper arm flew off while driving in the rain. Updated 04/29/11

Battery failed.

Battery failed.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

Battery failed.

The entire alternator wiring harness was melted and destroyed before the fuseable link opened the circuit. This clearly is not an acceptable electrical design. In fact, it is my contention that if my wife had not turned the car off when she did, due to the white smoke from the fan, the wiring harness would have caught on fire. Most likely the resulting fire would have destroyed the car as the melted wiring harness is directly under and around the engines fuel injection system. Personally inspected the electrical damage, and was appalled by how much of the wiring was fused together. If the safety design (fuseable link) of the fan circuit had worked properly the alternator wiring harness would never have been damaged to the extent i saw and more importantly my wife would never have been in personal danger.i have reported this issue to volvo america and they contend that a loose fan mount caused this issue. The repair shop was at a lose to explain this position to me as they could not understand how this was relevent to the extensive damage caused as the wiring harness melted down.

Vehicle was parked in the garage, once the consumer tried to start it,it would not start.the automobile club came and jumped the vehicle. Consumer proceeded to the dealer, and was told the battery needed to be replaced, and it was replaced. Consumer retrieved the vehicle, and the problem of starting the vehicle recurred. Automoble club came again, and the consumer was told the alternator wasdefective.

Driving at speed 65mph, vehicle stalled and lost all power, engine compartment fire, in for repair , will provide more information.

Car will not start, problem can occur at almost any time.it has been back to the dealers several times and they claim they can not find anything wrong with it.wrote to volvo one month ago and have had no response.

Vehicle is parked; headlights will blink on and off, motor won't turn over and steering wheel is smoking when trying to start vehicle.consumer has contacted dealer.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

Consumer noticed an odd smell inside of vehicle while traveling. Consumer pulled vehicle over and noticed smoke coming from under hood and afire.fire department was called and put fire out.

The entire alternator wiring harness was melted and destroyed before the fuseable link opened the circuit. This clearly is not an acceptable electrical design. In fact, it is my contention that if my wife had not turned the car off when she did, due to the white smoke from the fan, the wiring harness would have caught on fire. Most likely the resulting fire would have destroyed the car as the melted wiring harness is directly under and around the engines fuel injection system. Personally inspected the electrical damage, and was appalled by how much of the wiring was fused together. If the safety design (fuseable link) of the fan circuit had worked properly the alternator wiring harness would never have been damaged to the extent i saw and more importantly my wife would never have been in personal danger.i have reported this issue to volvo america and they contend that a loose fan mount caused this issue. The repair shop was at a lose to explain this position to me as they could not understand how this was relevent to the extensive damage caused as the wiring harness melted down.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

A fire started under the hood while driving at 25 mph.

The entire alternator wiring harness was melted and destroyed before the fuseable link opened the circuit. This clearly is not an acceptable electrical design. In fact, it is my contention that if my wife had not turned the car off when she did, due to the white smoke from the fan, the wiring harness would have caught on fire. Most likely the resulting fire would have destroyed the car as the melted wiring harness is directly under and around the engines fuel injection system. Personally inspected the electrical damage, and was appalled by how much of the wiring was fused together. If the safety design (fuseable link) of the fan circuit had worked properly the alternator wiring harness would never have been damaged to the extent i saw and more importantly my wife would never have been in personal danger.i have reported this issue to volvo america and they contend that a loose fan mount caused this issue. The repair shop was at a lose to explain this position to me as they could not understand how this was relevent to the extensive damage caused as the wiring harness melted down.

When traveling consumer noticed smoke coming from driver's side near and around the dashboard. When the consumer lost all headlights and taillights, consumer contacted dealer.dealer notedthatwiring melted inside the dashboard, causing short circuit.

While driving 40 to 45mph smelled something burning. Vehicle started filling with smoke, and consumer saw flames coming from under dash. Interior was engulfed in flames by time fire department arrived. *jg

Heat generated in the engine compartment causes abs control module and traction control module to fail in my '96 volvo 850r.as of today, there's 3 modules already replaced (each costing $800). The dealer said that the control module fails because it's not designed by the manufacturer to withstand typical engine heat. The chatroom of volvo owners (www.brickboard.com) is filled with the same complaint from various model years.the failure of the braking system is especially dangerous since the failure causes intermittent braking capability and hazardous during winter/snowy road conditions. The failure is sudden and without warning.

Consumer has issues about 1996 volvo 850 engine. *njthe consumer stated that carbon monoxide seeped into the vehicle and white smoke emitted from the tailpipe. The vehicle consumed an excessive amount of oil. A mechanic informed the consumer the vehicle needed serious engine work.the consumer was informed a one-time recall had been performed one year before she purchased the vehicle.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

Rear main seal failure, which appears to be a common occurrence with this particular vehicle, presents fire hazard and calls durability reputation of manufacturer into serious question.

The contact owns a 1996 volvo 850 glt.while parked in the contact's driveway, the vehicle burst into flames unexpectedly.the fire department was called to the scene and a report was filed.the report indicated that the fire originated from the engine compartment.the vehicle was completely destroyed.the garage door, house siding, and driveway surface were damaged.in addition, a small area of the lawn was damaged by the fire.there were no personal injuries.the insurance company and manufacturer were notified of the failure.the vehicle is currently being investigated and has not been towed from the scene.the failure and current mileages were 155,000.

The entire alternator wiring harness was melted and destroyed before the fuseable link opened the circuit. This clearly is not an acceptable electrical design. In fact, it is my contention that if my wife had not turned the car off when she did, due to the white smoke from the fan, the wiring harness would have caught on fire. Most likely the resulting fire would have destroyed the car as the melted wiring harness is directly under and around the engines fuel injection system. Personally inspected the electrical damage, and was appalled by how much of the wiring was fused together. If the safety design (fuseable link) of the fan circuit had worked properly the alternator wiring harness would never have been damaged to the extent i saw and more importantly my wife would never have been in personal danger.i have reported this issue to volvo america and they contend that a loose fan mount caused this issue. The repair shop was at a lose to explain this position to me as they could not understand how this was relevent to the extensive damage caused as the wiring harness melted down.

Engine cooling fan failed.

The beverage holder is located directly above the electrical power control. If liquids spills within the system, the power windows become inoperable. Please give any further details.*mjs

The vehicle caught on fire under the hood.

Rear main seal failure causing oil to leak over underside of car, including exhaust, potentially causing fire. Numerous other owners have reported the same failure at various mileage intervals.

Vehicle stalls on freeway and on streets at any time. Owner took vehicle to dealers and problem could not be duplicated. Owner is very concerned for safety. This has occurred 5 times.

Vehicle suddenly loses power and steam/smoke pours from engine, resulting in a fire.

Driver was doing 55mph and vehicle engine caught fire. Car is with dealer.

While driving the vehicle the engine stalled and then caught fire. Dealer is currently looking at vehicle.

Rear main seal failure causing engine oil to leak onto exhaust system. Possible fire hazard as this is a very common problem with the 850.volvo does not authorize out of warranty repairs on this component.various consumer websites contain multiple postings of this failure that volvo does not admit as a manufacturers defect.dt

While driving consumer can smell strong odor of sulphur. This causesnausea.consumer feels this is unsafe.volvo has been contacted. *ml

Exhaust:catalytic convertewr failed/plugged up.transmission:shift lock release button on shifter locked up.

Since the vehicle was purchased owners have experienced problems with the exhaust smell/fumes entering the vehicle, not able to remedy fume smell. *mjs

This isn't safety related, but emission's problem. Started latter part of nov.,2002. Tech hasn't been able to make satisfactory repair to date. Auto has been in shop over 30 days and is in shop at present. Tech has replaced almost all emission related parts,some more than once, but auto still running extremely rich, only about 10 mpg(city), normally gets 21-22 mpg. Engine has been checked on latest diag. Equipment to no avail. Am i the only one that has a problem with our 96 volvo(model 850)????*nlm

Evaporator pump fan relay for manifold failed.

At 49,706 miles the dealer replaced the air conditioner evaporator under warrenty. Approximately 32,000 miles later it had to be replaced again at a cost of approximately $800. Approximately 36,000 miles later it now needs to be replaced again. The dealer estimated the work would cost $800. We live in a climate where the a.c. Is used only in summers. The car is serviced regularly at a volvo dealership and the car is garaged. Both the dealer and the manufacturer refused to make any concessions siting the current mileage and the fact that the parts are no longer under warrenty. I feel the system continues to be defective, was never fixed properly and volvo should accept some monetary responsibility to make it right. Air conditioning systems should not have to be replaced three times in 125,000 miles.

This vehicle has a leak at a seam of the gas tank. Chen engine light is on with obo 11 code p0455 evaporative emission system leak detected large leak no flow. A certified volvo repair facility has verified crack at seam from gas tank.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

The repair cost has been quoted as $1,200.the air conditioner has only been used for three summers, it is a seasonal convenience.

Volvo refuses to acknowledge a design flaw in the a/c evaporator. The evaporators chronicallyfail, leaking r134a into the passenger compartment. I have contacted many owners on the net, as well as discussing the problem with master volvo mechanic. I was told it's a very common failure with this model. Owners are forced to pay high replacement cost ($1200), or illegally charge/discharge harmful r134a to recharge the system. Typical recharge only lasts a few weeks due to leaks in the evaporator. R134a chemical contains harmful ingredients, exposing the occupants of the vehicle to the leaking fumes and possible health hazard.

Consumer states that air conditioner evaporator was replaced and the odometer is not working properly.dealer has been notified.please provide further information. Mr

1996 volvo 850 turbo evaporator on air conditioner unit failed at about 60,000 miles.car was purchased used in 2000 with only 34,000 miles on it.part should last longer than 60,000 miles.

Mechanic informed owner that ac evaporator needs to be replaced and that r7r requires removal of dash.estimated cost is $2,000.ac only used occasionally.this is a very high cost for replacing a relatively inexpensive part due to a design flaw.would like volvo na to assist. *nlm

When going to get air conditioning system recharged, consumer was informed that he needed an evaporator, accumultor, temp sensor, evac and recharge, consumer states that the air conditioner is not used to that extent to require this level of repairs this soon.

Radio cassette unit failed.

1996 volvo 850 manufacturer's supplied tire jack is insufficient to lift car, extremely difficult to turn crank and is dangerous. Jack kept on slipping and finally collapsed. My knuckles were scraping concrete as i tried to turn the small crank.

When taveling at highway speeds the hule ski rack opened, causing five sets of skies to fly off the vehicle. Consumer has contacted the manufacturer. Please provide any further details.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

While driving and without warning the exterior/interior lights shut off and the consumer was unable to see.as a result the consumer was forced to pull over to the side of the road. *nlmthe volvo dealer has been notified.the symptom has now occurred multiple times.the light would come back on when the keys move about in the ignition switch, while the engine continued to run.scc

Vehicle is parked; headlights will blink on and off, motor won't turn over and steering wheel is smoking when trying to start vehicle.consumer has contacted dealer.

Suddenly, headlights and dash lights fail to operate when switch is in either headlight "on" position.when set in parking light position, dash and parking lights (only) work.if high beam switch is manually held, then high beams (only) work.

I own a 1996 volvo 850 turbo. Recently the gas tank began to leak at the seam on the driver side next to exhaust heat shieldi called volvo and they told me that my for my vin # there is no recall; on the internet there is a recallfor the same vehicle gas storage issues. Exactly on the same side same problem, but since my vin # does not coincide with their recall, i have to pay for it. I don't think that it is fair, that just because my vin # is different from the recall, numbers, it still has the same problem as the models they are recalling. If they are recalling a certain model in this case the 850 model for specific defects, what difference does it make what vin # it is, if it has the same problem on the recall. And a safety issue. If you can help with this, please let me know what i can do. Because the volvo agent was not very helpful and rude. Bottom line was to bad for you.

Dt:caller received a recall letter but the consumer feels the dealer did not repair the problem.the manufacturers recall #140 and the nhtsa recall #04v368000 were to replace a heat shield.the caller said she feels the dealer did not do the recall because after the repair fuel leaked when she filled the tank.neither the dealer nor the manufacturer have been contacted about the problem.

> my family received a notice from volvo cars of north america, via us mail, dated february 2005> notice explains that: "in certain cases, after prolonged exposure to extreme heat, the fuel tank in model year 1994-1997 volvo 850 vehicles may develop seepage at the heat shield attachment.when this occurs, a fuel odor may be present.">this is a serious understatement and, in my opinion based on my family's recent experience on our volvo 850 listed ed in the recall, borders on criminal neglect.> we experienced this problem with our own volvo 850 within the last two weeks, and it was much more than fuel vapor.i will explain:- a very strong intermittent fuel odor became noticeable, followed several days later by sever leaking from near the top of the gas tank down onto the cars exhaust pipe.i am really surprised it had not caught fire while we were driving the vehicle. - gas was dripping from the tank at a rate of one drop every two to three seconds.my wife and i noticed this after a quick trip to the grocery store where we had parked on level ground, allowing the gas to pool under the car.- we had to call the fire department to secure the vehicle; they had em move the car to a sloped gravel area to keep the gas to one side of the tank and to absorb the dripping gas.> the dealer took care of the problem immediately.the point that i am trying to make with all this is that if the notice had been worded more strongly and indicating the potential severity of this problem, we would have had the car in a lot sooner.i'm just glad we didn't have the car parked in a garage attached to our residence.feel free to give me a call or e-mail and i will be glad to forward a copy of this notice to your office for review.john dominskifairfax, va.

The fuel tank was observed to be leaking on 7/8/02 and this was confirmed by a technician on 7/9/02.the leakage occurs on one or more of the molded bosses upon which the heat shield is mounted.my suspicion is built-in stresses from the molded boss, perhaps not radiused properly where the boss joins the tank wall.it may also be a materials problem.the technician analyzing the problem said that they had seen the same failure on another 850 tank within the last 10 days.it is also possible that our extreme ambient heat may have caused a relatively inflexible heat shield to stress the assembly.it seems to be a critical safety problem, and i am disappointed that volvo has not been willing to join in remedying this situation with us, after calling it to their attention.

Consumer own a 1996 volvo 850 and it experienced a substantial gas leak from he gas storage tank itself.mr. John abbott answered by phone.*ph*mr

On the night of may 13, 2003 a few hours after parking the car (1996 volvo 850) in the garage the smell of gas became so strong it was overwhelming.inspection of the car and floor of the garage revealed gas leaking in a fast steady drip from the fuel tank. The leaked gas had formed a small puddle on the floor. On the morning of may 14, i arranged to take the car in for servicewhere it was confirmed that the fuel tank was indeed leaking from the seam.the car has not been repaired because the fuel tank was is on back order and is not expected to be available until june 1, 2001.the car is not drivable because of the leaking fuel.i believe this leak is the result of a defect in the original fuel tank as there is no apparent damage to the tank. *nlm

Gas tank was faulty of leaking gas.it has been repaired.smell overwhelming. Dealer determined it was faulty.

Fuel tank developed leak through rubbing parts.

When filling fuel tank at gas station, just as tank is nearly full, several ounces of fuel leak from top of tank, dripping underneath car.

I noticed an odd noise which sounded like something rolling around in the back of the car, but nothing was.at time of state inspection, i alerted the inspectors.they felt something bumping from within the gas tank.i disassembled the floor coverings and inspection ports for fuel pump and gauge sender.i removed the gauge sender and looked into the tank and observed a plastic bowl-like object surrounding the fuel pump.i rocked the car and this bowl would slosh against the pump.this object appears to be a baffle to reduce sloshing around the pump.it would seem that it was intended to be glued in place, but has broken loose.i suppose that this would eventually damage pump or tank.a new tank will cost close to $400 which i will now order.additional problem is intermittent failure of anti-lock brake/tracs system module.

Consumer stated vehicle's fuel tank has a leak and if filled over 12 gallons it will leak fuel, which can result in a fire. Dealer notified. Ts

I'm reporting the fuel tank on our 1996 volvo 850, vin no. [xxx], calif. Lic. [xxx], mileage 93238. The fuel tank started leaking around march 27, 2004, upon my investigation i observed fuel leaking from the left side of the fuel tank at the seam behind the exhaust heatshield. On the left side of the fuel tank there are three (3) screws that fasten the heatshield to fuel tank. Removing the two (2) of the screws allowed me to further observe fuel leaking from molded screw retainer. The car has not been driven due to the dangers associated with this leaking fuel tank.i found on the nhtsa website a preliminary evaluation (pe03-003) was opened in january of 2003 but closed in june 2003. I also found an engineering analysis (ea03-008) has been opened and that nhtsa has been investigating this matter and has correspondence with volvo concerning the other fifty four (54) incidences.we purchased this vehicle new in june 1996, and have properly maintained the vehicle as specified by volvo. This car is in excellent condition and has never been in an accident or damaged.please advise what solutions or remedies this agency or volvo is planning or doing regarding this serious matter. Updated 07/30/2012information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Casing to the fuel tank was installed improperly and caused fuel leakage. Dealer and manufacturer has been notified. Although its a defect volvo insist because vehicle is no longer under warrantys.the defect had a t.s.b issuedand vehcile was never checked.

The fuel tank split at the seam over the exhaust pipe. Manufacturer and the dealer have been notified of the problem.

Upon smelling gas fumes, consumer inspected vehicle and discovered that the fuel tank was leaking near the muffler.discovered fuel puddle while vehicle was parked in driveway. Mr

Fuel system, gasoline storagesmell of fuel fumes present at all times while operating vehiclewhen filling tank, fuel leaks from top of fuel tank assembly just as tank becomes completely full.

I own a 1996 volvo 850 glt station wagon with 72,500 miles. The fuel tank cracked and developed a leak from the foward heat shield mount on the gas tank.there was raw gas leaking 3 to 4 inches from the exhaust pipe. The car has never been in a crash nor have we hit or run over anything that damaged the gas tank or heat shield.i replaced the gas tank and seals and have the old gas tank.

The fuel tank leaked fuel where it was bolted to the tank. *nlm

Under normal driving conditions started smelling fuel inside the car.it was determined to be a leak in the fuel tank.it was leaking from the seam of the fuel tank which is plastic.the location of the leak was next to were the exhaust pipe runs.this, in my opinion,could have resulted in a fire or explosion.i feel lucky.when the fuel tank was replaced i discovered it was redesigned, thus leading me to believe this was a know problem to volvo.i was also required to replace the level sensor because it was not compatable with the new design.i am also going to be contacting volvo about this situtation.

Gas tank leaks.

Steady gas leak from gasoline fuel storage tank on 1996 volvo 850 sedan.leak from tank itself confirmed by independent garage who regularly serviced the car.after i contacted volvo u.s. (customer care office), i cancelled a replacement tank through the independent garage and took the car to the local volvo dealership (royal automotive in birmingham, al) for the repair.volvo has notified me that they will repair/replace the tank without charge to me but only if the work is done through their dealer.the car is currently at the dealer awaiting inspection by the volvo u.s. Tech field rep.

Consumer states that about (10) gallons of gas had leaked out from gas tank onto the garage floor.

While drivingat any speed smelled strong chemical fumes in passenger compartmen due to a defect in the fuel tank. Dealer notified.

Dt*:the contact stated without warning, the speedometer became inoperable.the dealership determined the speedometer needed to be replaced.

This vehicle has a leak at a seam of the gas tank. Chen engine light is on with obo 11 code p0455 evaporative emission system leak detected large leak no flow. A certified volvo repair facility has verified crack at seam from gas tank.

My fuel tank started leaking exactly as the recall # 04v368000 describes, where the heat shield connects to the fuel tank. I filled up, drove 3 miles home, parked in my driveway, and smelled gas, but did not *see* anything at that time. It lost 6 gallons of fuen in about 3 hours hours. Volvo says this recall does not pertain to my vehicle, because they do it by specific vin numbers, but would not say anything further. It is in my local shop parking lot, i was unable to photograph the leak as i am disabled and could not climb under the car.

While driving and without warning the exterior/interior lights shut off and the consumer was unable to see.as a result the consumer was forced to pull over to the side of the road. *nlmthe volvo dealer has been notified.the symptom has now occurred multiple times.the light would come back on when the keys move about in the ignition switch, while the engine continued to run.scc

Srs warning light comes on and stayed on for 2 days, then went off.service dealer cannot determine problem.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

The contact owns a 1996 volvo 850. The contact stated that when traveling over different deviations on the road, the rear end of the vehicle would fish tail. In addition, the vehicle would sporadically stall without warning. The contact would have to receive a jump start in order to restart the vehicle each time the vehicle stalled. The dealer was notified who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact tried contacting the manufacturer via web mail but to no avail. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The current mileage was 151,805 and the failure mileage was approximately 150,805. Updated 03/02/11 the consumer stated the trunk lid latch was faulty. The windshield wiper arm flew off while driving in the rain. Updated 04/29/11

Exhaust:catalytic convertewr failed/plugged up.transmission:shift lock release button on shifter locked up.

Speedometer failed.

Vehicle will not shift from park without shift lock. Tsb issued on part,and part was redesigned.however problem keeps occurring.

Automatic transmission slipped out of park position, rolled down incline, & hit a tree.volvo admits shift interlock is damaged, but claims damage due to misuse. My insurance agent indicted volvo claims part was replaced by prior owner due to a recall. Replacement part is likely to also be defective.if my children had been playing in yard, the car would have run over them. However, volvo feels the problem is not a safety issue. A movie was taken while the car was still under the tree showing that the gear shifter could be moved without the key in the ignition, the brake pedal depressed, or gear shifter release button depressed. Nhtsa internet site shows a complaint with same problem.another also incident occured in rei parking lot( a retailer in atlanta)on august 24, 1999. Unfortunately, rei did not get customer's name, but is attempting to get name.please contact me to let me know if this complaint will be investigated.thank you, susan berra

While parked, transmission slipped out of park, rolled down a hill & hit a tree. Volvo admits shift interlock damaged, but does not consider the part defective. Movie taken that shows gear shifter moves without the key in the ignition, brake pedal depressed, or gear shift button depressed. Two other volvo owners have had the same exact experience with their car.likely to be many more.

I reported this incident over the phone on august 4.i have not received a written report.please call me at work to let me know the status of my report.i also have some new information.

Upon operating the vehicle under normal condition the vehicle will downshift, causing the vehicle to deaccelerate, consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced the transmission, problem still occurs.

Auto-tran: while parked, transmission slipped out of park, rolled down incline, hit a house. Note: leased vehicle.

Neutral and gears was minimal, car rolled- mirror trapped my 17 year old daughter - she was killed.

Consumer states the vehicle was in park ( the key will not got out the ignition.mr

Automatic transmission would not get out of park due to computer chip failure.

The abs/tracs system is not working properly.warning lights indicating that this system is not working properly has been on for many months.the dealer has indicated that the abs/tracs system needs to be replaced at a repair bill of $750.00.this is a major problem with the volvos and i believe that the volvo corp. Should be held accountable for this design flaw.

While the vehicle was parked without the key in the ignitionvehicle came out off park, rolled down a hill and hit a tree.please give any further details.

While traveling 15-20mph front axle broke away from the vehicle. Dealer was contacted, and informed consumer that a technical service bulletins tp6001201section and 79606470-77,front end steering 850-992,had been issued for that problem. But, refused to remedyproblem at no cost. Please provide further details.

Volvo's manual transmission does not in anyway provide for safety, there is no way of preventing the car from coming out of gear when not placed on a steep incline as volvo has pointed out. The rear side mirrors project out far enough to trap an individual prohibiting them from freeing themselves, resulting in death. Side mirrors are designed in such a way that an individual will lose their life before the mirror breaks free. I know, my daughter was killed by the passenger side mirror in this way.

Front seat belt failed.

Both airbag's deployed after running over a manhole that had it's cover missing, breaking the front windshield, and injured the driver's right wrist. There was rear suspension damage.

The seat belts are very tight and designed improperly.they allow no movement and you have to remove the belt to adjust anything on the dash.the manufacturer would not change the belt to the newer unit, that is now in the v70.he wanted to install an extension but we would have to sign a non responsibility waver which we would not.i asked the volvo representative to wear the belt and he could not without an extension.when we wear winter coats it is impossible to buckle up properly.i have turned the car in under warranty several times and the dealer would do nothing, because volvo would do nothing.this problem exists on all 850 models.the belts also fly back when removed if you can't catch them.i have been hit several times in the head and damage has occurred to the interior of the car, which volvo repaired under warranty several times.our family purchased two vehicles, same model at the same time.both have the same problem.volvo says the belts are safe, thats their argument.i say they are very unsafe and not comfortable.the problem could be fixed easily with the install of the v-70 belts.i am willing to pay for them but volvo won't do it. Donald p. Cone.

We purchased this car used.the previous owner had the right rear seat belt replaced, stating that it would fail to latch at times.we personally have had 3 failures with the rear seat belts, 2 on the left rear and 1 on the right.these failures are occuring when we attempt to install our child safety seats.there is a special component on the seat belt latch that prevents the seat belt from retracting when using car seats.this component breaks when we pull on the seat belt in order to tighten it for proper installation of the car seats.if this can occur with manual pulling, it seems sure to fail in an accident.i do not feel that my children are safe in this vehicle and i have expressed my concerns to the dealer with little response as to a solution other than to replace the seat belt.please contact me as soon as possible to let me know what can be done and if there have been other reports such as mine.i want to sell the car, but do not want to pass this important safety issue along to another owner.i look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your time.karla cannon

As a matter of safety i had the buckle assembly of the driver's seat replaced because the buckle release plastic latch had broken and a portion of the plastic piece had fallen into the assembly.i am aware of the takata seatbelt recall dealing with a similar failure mode and the possibility of false latching resulting from plastic pieces becoming engaged in the buckle inner mechanisms.dt

Dt*:the contact stated the driver side seat belt will not come out of the retractor.the vehicle was taken to the dealership, where it was determined the seat belt assembly needs to be replaced.

Dt*:the contact stated the driver side seat belt will not come out of the retractor.the vehicle was taken to the dealership, where it was determined the seat belt assembly needs to be replaced.

Css tech. Reportsrear lap and shoulder belts have a switchable retractor plate.however, plate does not switch and lock in place when applied. Dealer not aware of the problem. Problem still exists.

While driving and without warning involved in a side collision. Driver's side seat belt did not restrain driver, driversustainedmajor body injuries. Dealer has been notified.

Rear middle seat belt will not extend,result in inoperable seat belts.the seat belt for the integrated child seat would not extend to allow the consumer to fasten the child in the seat.

Please disregard no complaint concerning child seat.

Afterrecall repairs on the seat heater it no longer work sproperly. Dealer will be notified.

Whildrivingdriver's seat caught on fire due toseat heater. Dealer has seen vehicle,and said it was not a manufacturer's defect.although the manufacturer's inspector indicated that there was defect, the manufacturer agreed to look into the problem seriously.

Vehicle 1 noticed smoke and then saw a flame as he pulled out of a parking slot.the determined cause of malfunction was the driver's seat heater.insured replaced the wiring for the heater about a year ago. Claim# 37-3190-422.*jg

The consumer received a recall notice #02v314000 , electrical seat heater, in march of 2003.the consumer has made several appointments to have to recall remedied.the dealer has cancelled all appointments made stating the parts were unavailable.*nlm

After starting the engine, i switched the seat heater on and drove away.within 2 minutes of driving, a sharp pain developed in my right buttock.within seconds a trail of dark smoke rose from the same area.after lifting my bottom off of the seat and realizing the smoke was coming from the seat i shutoff the seat warmer.the result of the incident left a burn mark on my pants and a cigarette sized hole in my seat cushion.i immediately took the vehicle to the dealer and after investigation i was informed that the part was not under warrantee.the cost of the new seat warmer and replacement of the seat cushion was 770 us dollars.i refused to pay and asked the dealer to simply disconnect the seat warmer.

1996 volvo 850 - drivers side seat, hole burned in seat due to heated seat failure.

While in motion the heaters in the seat caught on fire and caused the car to catch on fire. Claim #13-7210-322 *jg

Seat heaters were replaced due to recall, but heaters malfunctioned after replacement.dealer won't take responsibility. *lathe consumer received recall 02v314000.the driver and passenger seat heaters were fully functional and the consumer had no problems.once the dealer did the recall repairs the seat heaters no longer functioned.the consumer informed the dealer of the problem.the dealer indicated that only the wiring was re-routed, therefore they were not responsible.

I am the owner and driver of a 1996 volvo 850. On sunday march 16th 2003, the driver and myself were stopped in a drive through restaurant when my drivers seat caught on fire. The car started smoking from the seats, then we turned around to look where it was coming from wenoticed flames coming out from under the seat into the back seat area. We yelled for a fire extinguisher that the driver used to put out the fire, while putting it out he sustained injury. The local fire department was notified and a report was taken.they had advised me not to drive my car.i was confused on what had happened so i decided to research "electrical wiring problems in volvo's" when i founddifferent articles recalling my make and model of my car that as of december 2, 2002:65,000 1996, 850 volvo's were being recalled because the seat heaters could short circuit and catch fire. In many of the articles it has stated that either volvo hasn't started a campaign yet to notify their consumers or that volvo would not return calls to comment on recalls. I contacted the nearest vovlo dealership to me and they were very confused on what to do. The man on the phone first told me that he hasn't heard of a recall for that but a few minutes later he said they recently serviced his boss' 1996 850 volvo for the same recall, he said he would research and call me back. Early afternoon, i contactedvolvo cars of north america to complain. I told the above story, wherethey thought they weren't liable for this. One man said just because it's recalled doesn't mean that is what happened with my car. I then spoke with his supervisor who told me that i needed to tow my car to the dealership which is approximately 45 miles away, i have to foot the bill and that's where an adjuster from volvo will inspect the car. In the meantime i can not drive my vehicle and they will not pay for a rental while my car is out of commission. Livid at the fact that my safety and the safety of my passengers was compromised!

While in motion the heaters in the seat caught on fire and caused the car to catch on fire. Claim #13-7210-322 *jg

Vehicle 1 noticed smoke and then saw a flame as he pulled out of a parking slot.the determined cause of malfunction was the driver's seat heater.insured replaced the wiring for the heater about a year ago. Claim# 37-3190-422.*jg

The abs control module has failed causing both the abs and traction control system to be intermittently inoperable.based on my own research, this is a common problem that volvo north america claims they are not aware of.multiple websites have postings from owners with this problem.this is a serious safety concern as there is intermittent failure of this system and volvo will not repair it at their cost.dt

No summary.dt

Other volvo 850/s70 owners also have the same abs module failures.mr

Abs computer failure, abs and traction control light on, abs fails to function at all. Tsb on wire crimp done allready. Please do something about this, there are hundreds if not thousands of cases of failed abs ecu modules, some are replaced under warranty and dont even get reported.

Abs computer failure, abs and traction control light on, abs fails to function at all. Tsb on wire crimp done allready. Please do something about this, there are hundreds if not thousands of cases of failed abs ecu modules, some are replaced under warranty and dont even get reported.

Abs control unit failure on 96 volvo 850 with just over 60,000 miles on it. Abs light comes on due to failure in unit. Failure is a result of cracks that develop in circuit board. Abs fails & is no longer operable leading to hazardous braking condition. This is a common & well known issue on 850 volvo's. Internet message boards and volvo repair specialists and members of volvo community all know that abs light coming on means90% chance total failure of unit is involved.repair cost is prohibitive. Replacement of defective unit is $650 to $900.00.

Abs/tracs module defective

1996 850 volvo wagon abs brake failure.the abs brake computer periodically turns itself off (the abs dash light comes on).this wouldn't be too bad because the brakes will work fine even if the abs system malfunctions.except when the system first malfunctions. There is a one to two second interval when you try to apply the brakes and the pedal fights you, vibrates, then allows normal braking (not to be confused with the abs chatter that happens when it is working properly and a wheel is slipping).my abs system turns off every time i drive the car, you're just never sure when.if it does when i'm braking, my braking is impaired for a couple seconds - that could be catastrophic!my volvo dealer says they've had a lot of problems with these "computers", but it doesn't affect safety.furthermore, it costs $700 to fix!i believe this is a safety factor and i'm appalled that volvo (of all companies) doesn't issue a recall.

I have a 1996 volvo 850 turbo station wagon. It has only 41,000 miles but the abs light would come on and off.i am told this is a common problem for the car.volvo claims it is one of the safest car on the road and quite reliable.i disagree. Pls. Ask volvo to issue a recall as this is annoying and could prove to be dangerous.

Car vibrates and a loud resonance is heard when the brakes are applied at 30 mph or below.

1996 volvo 850's are plagued with rear main seal failures which cause oil to leak onto clutches as well as on to the exhaust systems, creating the potential for fires. 1996 volvo 850's are also plagued with abs control module failures in that the abs and traction control systems fail to operate at times. This is due to a defective computer module.volvo 850's are also plagued with poor drivers side wiper designs that result in a large portion of the windshield not being swept by the wiper, washer nozzles return valves also fail frequently, preventing washer fluid from recahing the windshield.

1996 volvo 850abs light intermittent not sure if abs is working or not comes and goes.

1996 volvo 850 - abs light intermittent - not sure if abs is working or not - told by volvo repair specialists that this is a common occurrence on the 96 & 97 models - also told that abs computer has tendency to burn out relatively quickly on this model & year - told to go ahead and replace it - again - had it replaced less than 4 years ago -

While driving, expeienced intermittent abs failure, when abs light appears continuously and upon applying brakes heard loud noise.

The abs electronic control unit failed. The dealer stated that the problem was common with this model due to a known design flaw. The consumer is seeking full reimbursement.

While driving about any mphwould step onbrake pedal andbrakes will start making noise.consumer had taken vehicle to dealer, and found that brakes rotors had been malfuntioning, and every 25000 miles needed to be repaired.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

The abs/tracs system is not working properly.warning lights indicating that this system is not working properly has been on for many months.the dealer has indicated that the abs/tracs system needs to be replaced at a repair bill of $750.00.this is a major problem with the volvos and i believe that the volvo corp. Should be held accountable for this design flaw.

Intermittent and ongoing problem when applying brakes. The pedal would go to the floor, causing pulsation, and extended stopping distance. Vehicle been to the dealer on six occasion. Dealer replaced abs module, butextended stopping distance would reoccur.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

Abs system failed.

Brakes fail at low speeds; pedal goes all the way to the floor without stopping car.this isaccompanied by a groaning sound.persistent problem, reported repeatedly to two volvo dealer service shops since september 1997, without satisfactory repair or resolution.

Brake problems; intermittentlywhen applying the brakes on any road conditions the pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle requiresextended stopping distance.vehicle has been in the shop for a total of (37) days for brake problems since feb of 96.

The failure of this component, which in searching the web is very common on the 1996 model, results in false triggering of the abs system, which increases stopping distance significantly. A search of www.brickboard.com for 850 & abs will turn up numerous examples of this failure, which is frequently misdiagnosed by the dealers. Volvo knows of the failures, and has not admitted that it is a safety problem. It is a safety problem since the abs system is not functioning correctly, and the failure causes increased stopping distances.

Car can not be repaired. Volvo of wesport, ct has 10 modules on back order. Volvo is claiming this part is not defective enough for a recall.dt

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Failure of module disenabled the abs.sporatic failure first occurred at 32000 mi, but complete failure occurred at 52,000 miles.car repairman indicates that failure of this module is common for 1996-1998 volvos.he replaces 3-4 per week.

After starting the vehicle the abs warning lightilluminated and stayed on until the vehicle was shut off.dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

Antilock brake system failed.

Heat generated in the engine compartment causes abs control module and traction control module to fail in my '96 volvo 850r.as of today, there's 3 modules already replaced (each costing $800). The dealer said that the control module fails because it's not designed by the manufacturer to withstand typical engine heat. The chatroom of volvo owners (www.brickboard.com) is filled with the same complaint from various model years.the failure of the braking system is especially dangerous since the failure causes intermittent braking capability and hazardous during winter/snowy road conditions. The failure is sudden and without warning.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

I have not yet replaced the faulty abs module on my car because no one knows exactly what the problem is.i have researched it and the abs module has been faulty on many volvo 850.sometimes my abs/tracs (traction control) light turns on indicating that i no longer have abs brakes, but do still have normal ones.the system seems to fail randomly, and more frequently in warmer weather.dt

No summary listed for above vehicle.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Vehicle experiencedsevere white smoke coming fromunder the hood, pulled over, and had vehicle towed to independent repair shop. Independent repair shop informed consumerthatproblem was due to an electrical shortage in the abs wiring harness.manufacturer notified and refused to help in this problem. Please feel free to provide any further details.

The abs failed, which caused the vehicle to experience extended stopping distance.

I own a 1996 volvo 850 turbo. Abs module failed to work. There are similar problems reported by other owners. The failure rate appears to be high for this particular model.*nlm

This is a repeated problem. I am informed by volvo specialists this problem is very common and the result of a faulty computer system. The independent shop(s) i have taken it to report it is customary for them to repair at least 5 of these per week and that the problem is confined to the 1996 and 1998 850 models. They also suggest volvo is well aware of the problem but refuses to recall the defective part (computer syste). Note, this also govens the traction control system!

While driving 50 mph, applied brakes, received no apparent braking action; swerved out of right lane into exit lane, pumped several timesstill no braking action, pedal went almost to floor, caused an accident; vehicle into sign/light pole.

Abs warning light came on.i took the car intodealer and was told thatcontrol unit needed to be replaced.it seemed strange to me, soi asked if this was a common problem for my type of car.i was told this type problem happens.but, it continued to bother me, so i researched the issue, and i came across an article in the march 1, 1999 issue of motor age.according to the article, ifabs warning light comes on, the problem may be a faulty electronic brake distribution switch.the article went on to state that if the part number stamped on the switch is 9157358, the switch must be replaced, and if brake fluid has already leaked into the switch connector, the switch, wiring harness and the abs control unit must all be replaced.according to the article, this is considered a safety recall and the factory has issued a recall notice to owners.i did not receive a recall notice.after reading the article, i contacted volvo and was told that no parts on my particular vehicle have been recalled.however, that does not mean that my car is not affected by this same faulty switch.volvo denies that there is a problem with the switch in my car or any other car, but i think this matter should be looked into further.so far, i have gotten the run around.

Consumer states that when trying to apply the anti lock brakes. Brakes will lock up, causing the vehicle to have extended stopping distance. Dealer notified.

Connecticut's own volvo in milford ct says the abs system is defective. $600 to fix. I asked why i had to pay for a defective computer and he said that it was beyond its expected life. However, he could not tell me what the expected life of the abs system was. The abs system is one of the reasons i got this car and if it is defective and no longer working, and volvo is not interested in repairing it, that seems to me to be something you need to look into.

While driving applied the brakes and the vehicle will not stop. Driver pumped on the brakesand then the vehicle stopped. Tookvehicle todealer several times. The first time they replaced the master cylinder , and two months earlier, dealer replace the rear rotors.may01, 98, dealer rewired the braking system. The driverhears noise when the vehicle goes over a large bump.

Repaired by dealer on 02/02/2001 at my cost. No safety defect mentioned in summary.

Anti-lock brake failure.

The abs and tracs off idiot lamps turn on and off intermittently in my 850. I can be driving around on dry pavement with very little throttle input, and the traction control will engage (audible whirring of the abs modulator pump and stiff pulsating brake pedal - quickly applied to confirm my suspicion). This will light the lamps. Likewise, i can be braking on a dry surface at a low decel, and the abs will engage. This will also light the lamps and shut off abs/tracs.after a while, the lights will turn off, and abs and tracs function normally.this happens about once or twice a day since the first incident on 7/11/03.i've given an estimate number in the field below.furthermore, the speedometer functions intermittently.i've traced this issue back to a faulty connection between the vehicle wiring harness and the abs controller.the times this has happened, the wiring harness has not been fastened securely in the plug on the abs controller.removing and replugging the wiring harness into the abs controller temporarily solves the problem.the wiring harness is coming loose in normal driving conditions.the car is well maintained and is not abused.this has happened two times since the first incident on 7/11/03.

Abs and "trac off" lights came on intermittently due to a defective abs control unit.

Bad abs module. *la

Hairline crack in circuit board on vehicle computer makes abs and tracs braking system inoperative.this is an intermittent problem and goes off if the vehicle is stopped and re-started.i talked to an independent volvo repair shop and he indicated that he has replaced ten computer this year in boise, idaho this year on various volvo models, years 1993 to 1998.

I noticed an odd noise which sounded like something rolling around in the back of the car, but nothing was.at time of state inspection, i alerted the inspectors.they felt something bumping from within the gas tank.i disassembled the floor coverings and inspection ports for fuel pump and gauge sender.i removed the gauge sender and looked into the tank and observed a plastic bowl-like object surrounding the fuel pump.i rocked the car and this bowl would slosh against the pump.this object appears to be a baffle to reduce sloshing around the pump.it would seem that it was intended to be glued in place, but has broken loose.i suppose that this would eventually damage pump or tank.a new tank will cost close to $400 which i will now order.additional problem is intermittent failure of anti-lock brake/tracs system module.

While driving abs light appeared on the dashboard and remained on.consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection.mechanic determined thatabs pump motor needed to be replaced.

While applying the brakes the abs brake light appeared on the dashboard, and remained on.following that the brake pedal went to the floor.this caused a loss of braking power. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it home. Consumer contacted the dealer, and the mechanicdetermined that the abs modular unit needed replacement.

Abs sensor failed.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

At low speed and applied brake, it made noise and vibrated. Please describe .

While driving about any mphwould step onbrake pedal andbrakes will start making noise.consumer had taken vehicle to dealer, and found that brakes rotors had been malfuntioning, and every 25000 miles needed to be repaired.

While driving applied the brakes and the vehicle will not stop. Driver pumped on the brakesand then the vehicle stopped. Tookvehicle todealer several times. The first time they replaced the master cylinder , and two months earlier, dealer replace the rear rotors.may01, 98, dealer rewired the braking system. The driverhears noise when the vehicle goes over a large bump.

While driving applied the brakes and the vehicle will not stop. Driver pumped on the brakesand then the vehicle stopped. Tookvehicle todealer several times. The first time they replaced the master cylinder , and two months earlier, dealer replace the rear rotors.may01, 98, dealer rewired the braking system. The driverhears noise when the vehicle goes over a large bump.

Vehicle is parked; headlights will blink on and off, motor won't turn over and steering wheel is smoking when trying to start vehicle.consumer has contacted dealer.

Problem with steering wheel.

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

Power steering leak, causing poor steering, and the pump makes a loud noise when turning. Also, driver's door hinge broke, causing the door to swing back on its own when opening. The dealer has been contacted.

Power steering pump failed.

Power steering rack failed and was replaced at 51000 miles, 30000 miles later, steering rack cracked and is leaking power steering fluid.

Customer states that she began to detect creaking sounds every timeshe opened and closed the front door on the driver' side**ccthe consumer was informed there was a crack in the frame of the door.

The dashboard is separating from the frame.consumer is concerned that the air bag will deploy inadvertently.

A crack developed on the "high strength steel safety cage" adjacent to the area where the driver's door stop is welded to it. I have requested that the cracked door pillar portion of the "high strength steel safety cage" be replaced.volvo cars of north america, inc.'s response has been that it is not their problem.i have also requested that it be covered by the extended warranty i purchased, but they have made several attempts to call the cracked area things that would not be covered by their liberal between the lines interpretation of the contract which is also with volvo cars of north america, inc.their final response was, "while we regret you may not concur, volvo cars of north america, inc., will not respond or consider this matter further".the dealer body shop advisor estimated the repair at over $1,200.00.replacement requires removal of the driver's door, winshield, and dashboard.

Customer states that she began to detect creaking sounds every timeshe opened and closed the front door on the driver' side**ccthe consumer was informed there was a crack in the frame of the door.

Front door stay attaching lugs (6817408) break weld.weak design, doomed to fail.service bulletin (881807) in 1995.newer cars same problembody shop repair $150/door.volvo should repair.

Door hinge section fastened to sheet metal has failed on drivers side.failure is structural tear causing movement of door control component of drivers door hinge (between two major hinges). Component moves flexing section of door frame about 1 1/2 inches long as door is opening and closing, causing expansion of metal tear.

Driver's side door hinge made noises. Took vehicle to shop & was informed that hinges would need to be welded back on.*la

Driver's side door hinge would make noises. Took vehicle to body shop & was informed that hinges would need to be rewelded back on.

Power steering leak, causing poor steering, and the pump makes a loud noise when turning. Also, driver's door hinge broke, causing the door to swing back on its own when opening. The dealer has been contacted.

1996 volvo 850 wagon tailgate hydraulic hinge jack.jack repeatedly failed to hold up the tailgate when tempersture drops below 52 degree, or while parked in uphill position.on december 18, 2003, it almost fell on my 5 and 3 years old; i am thankful that i still had a tall large box in the way when that happened. I could seen serve injuries or fatalities may occur to the little ones just happen to stand in the way. It landed on me several times afterward, thus my tracking of the tailgate operation. Notice should be send to parents to not allow their little ones standing behind the car while the gate is up.

Gas line and brake line protective strip at the bottom of vehicle fell off partially.

Both airbag's deployed after running over a manhole that had it's cover missing, breaking the front windshield, and injured the driver's right wrist. There was rear suspension damage.

The contact owns a 1996 volvo 850. The contact stated that when traveling over different deviations on the road, the rear end of the vehicle would fish tail. In addition, the vehicle would sporadically stall without warning. The contact would have to receive a jump start in order to restart the vehicle each time the vehicle stalled. The dealer was notified who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact tried contacting the manufacturer via web mail but to no avail. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The current mileage was 151,805 and the failure mileage was approximately 150,805. Updated 03/02/11 the consumer stated the trunk lid latch was faulty. The windshield wiper arm flew off while driving in the rain. Updated 04/29/11

The low profile tire / alloy wheel combination on the front of the car is very susceptible to damage from road hazards (pot holes).two separate occasions the front tire was damaged (did not lose pressure, but developed large bulge in sidewall) and the alloy wheel was damaged (bending and cracking of wheel rim).

Driving at speed 15mph, right rear tire exploded, causing loss of control of vehicle, impact media strip, at 12:00 position, dual airbags did not deploy.

This is my second volvo 850 s/w and i had the same problem with the prior 1995 model. Both vehicles have low profile, high performance wheels and tires which fail on thepothole roads. The failure is a saftey hazard.

During regular driving driver has tire blow outs.this has occurred three times.owner notes of possible design flaw with the low profile tires on vehicle.problem can occur at anytime , most frequently when vehicle hits pothole.

Early failure of premium tire marketed as highly durable. No safety defect.ak( dot number: tire size: 205/50 )

On 12/18/99 we purchased 4 dunlop d60 a2 tires from the tiren farmingdale/howell nj. They have a dunlop # of cr3651-2 and cr365 1-1 and cr2196-1. Today on the way to work my wife called me to say the tire was making a thumping noise. She stopped to look at it and saw a piece of tire missing. I sent her to sears to buy a replacement tire and when she got to sears, the worker showed her the other tire was separating. In april i replaced one of the tires cause it had a nail in the side wall and a piece of rubber was missing. I thought it was just a road hazzard. Now i realize the tires are defected since all remaining three are separating. I will notify tire farm but i thought you should be aware of this. Thank god my wife was not hurt. All the tires have dot dbv9 ca8 and the numbers (348) (208) (208)and (e11) 022682 they also have po51d3-b on the tires in fact the replacement tire i bought at sears is the same dot # they all have 01 08 40 on the tires. The one from sears has not separated yet!!! when we put the tires on we had 86,000 miles on the car now it is 129,000. Not this is all highway miles and the tread ware is small. Do you want me to save the tires for you? please let me know.thank you and look into this before someone gets hurt. (dot number: dbv9 ca8tiresize: p195/60r15)

Goodyear tires blew out.

The problem i have experienced is a condition where the sidewall of the tires forms a bulge, causing the tire to become unbalanced and in danger of bursting.from speaking with several tire dealers, it seems that the cause of the problem is the ultra-low profile design of the tires which makes them unusually vulnerable to damage from normal road hazards.i have had four tires develop this condition on four separate occasions.since i am extremely cautious about avoiding road hazards, and put snow tires on the car in the winter, it is obviously not a coincidence.furtermore, it is quite evident that many other volve 850 owners have had the same bad fortune.( dot number: tire size: 205-45/z17 )

Tires have 12,000 miles - one tire has a large bubble on the sidewall( dot number: 27682 tire size: p195/60r15 )

Tires have 12,000 miles - one tire has a large bubble on the sidewall( dot number: 27682 tire size: p195/60r15 )

1996 volvo 850's are plagued with rear main seal failures which cause oil to leak onto clutches as well as on to the exhaust systems, creating the potential for fires. 1996 volvo 850's are also plagued with abs control module failures in that the abs and traction control systems fail to operate at times. This is due to a defective computer module.volvo 850's are also plagued with poor drivers side wiper designs that result in a large portion of the windshield not being swept by the wiper, washer nozzles return valves also fail frequently, preventing washer fluid from recahing the windshield.

We have contacted volvo directly on informing them of problems and concerns with our car. Their response has been inadequate. We would be more than happy to forward this correspondance to you. No safety defect listed within summary.

Runaway accelerator ? on entering interstate, i quickly realized that the accelerator was locked into the floored position.i had a runaway situation with traffic.i was unable to slow the car or release the accelerator.fortunately, i had the knowledge and sense to slow the car.pumping the brakes did not help.i managed to hold the brakes while downshifting into the low and then lowest gear in automatic transmission.i managed to negotiate the car toward the shoulder and eventually threw the transmission into the park gear.the car jolted, then stopped.this was a life threatening situation for me and others on the road.

Dt:odometer/speedometerdoes not work, v this problem appears to be a flawin volvo's manufacturing.consumer wants name and concern shared with volvo. Consumer states volvo knows of this widespread era in their cars. On may 18th 2005 consumer sent a letter to volvo about the odometer problem, along with a follow up letter on june 9th 2005. Consumer states that failure is due to a small plastic gear in the speedometer.*sb

Cruise control failed.

While driving approx. 45 mph the car begin to race, as though it were stuck in gear, i applied my brakes, but they did not respond.the car continued to accelete (up hill) on it's own.i attempted to apply the brakes, but to no avail, the car continued to accelerate. I steered the car to jump a curb and applied the emergencybrake, the car continued to accelerate.i was no longer in control of the car, so i took off my seat belt and ejected from the car.the car went head on into a truck and was subsequently totalled.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

I own two vovo 850s.one is a 1993 volvo 850 glt and the other is a 1996 volvo 850 turbo wagon.the air conditioner in both cars developed leaks in the evaporators.the 1996 car developed the leak in 2003.i had it replaced in 2004 for $1400.the 1993 volvo a/c evaporator also developed a leak.to replace it will cost another $1400 plus.volvo denies that there is any problem with the design of the a/c evaporators.i suggest that the fact that in my two cars both evaporators have developed leaks indicates that there is a defect.note that living in virginia the a/c is used seasonally.i would be curious to know how many evaporators volvo replaces per year in what models and what year made.my guess is that there is a pattern here that volvo is aware of (must be) and refuses to acknowledge due to potential cost to the company.

Problem with rear windshield.

Volvo's manual transmission does not in anyway provide for safety, there is no way of preventing the car from coming out of gear when not placed on a steep incline as volvo has pointed out. The rear side mirrors project out far enough to trap an individual prohibiting them from freeing themselves, resulting in death. Side mirrors are designed in such a way that an individual will lose their life before the mirror breaks free. I know, my daughter was killed by the passenger side mirror in this way.

Left front caliper broke in january 1999, roght front caliper broke at this time. Parts were on back order. Consumer was told it would take 3 months to get vehicle repaired.consumer has had many problems with vehicle, instrument lights were replaced, dash bulb lights and other bulbs replaced.headlight wiper and windshield wiper blades replaced.consumer smelled an odor in the air conditioner and later the air conditioner was not cooling properly, dealer replaced the temperature sensor, evaporator, receiver, and dryer.battery failed and was replaced, consumer had a recall on the central electrical relay and when returning to vehicle that was shut off the phone and radio were on.coolant light illuminated 4 times, finally dealer replaced the coolant filler cap, engine light keeps illuminated, dealer has replaced the pnp switch, oxygen sensor, air pump, and check valve, theair pump and check valve were replaced twice, the timing belt has also been replaced.abs sensor cable has been replaced, calipers have been replaced 3 times, front brake pads, rotors, and front disc brakes have been replaced.

The contact owns a 1996 volvo 850. The contact stated that when traveling over different deviations on the road, the rear end of the vehicle would fish tail. In addition, the vehicle would sporadically stall without warning. The contact would have to receive a jump start in order to restart the vehicle each time the vehicle stalled. The dealer was notified who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact tried contacting the manufacturer via web mail but to no avail. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The current mileage was 151,805 and the failure mileage was approximately 150,805. Updated 03/02/11 the consumer stated the trunk lid latch was faulty. The windshield wiper arm flew off while driving in the rain. Updated 04/29/11

The low profile tire / alloy wheel combination on the front of the car is very susceptible to damage from road hazards (pot holes).two separate occasions the front tire was damaged (did not lose pressure, but developed large bulge in sidewall) and the alloy wheel was damaged (bending and cracking of wheel rim).




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