1997 Volvo 850

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/22/2004· VISIBILITY

  I HAVE A 1997 VOLVO MODEL 850 T-5 THAT I WAS DRIVING DURING A SNOW AND ICE STORM WHEN THE HEATER/BLOWER STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON, THUS CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DRAIN ON MY DRIVING REFLEXES AND BEING ABLE TO SEE SINCE THE WINDOWS ALL STARTED TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE AND ICE ON THE OUTSIDE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BECOME INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER/BLOWER. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VOLVO THAT THE HEATER BLOWERS FAIL FOR NO REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO TO REPLACE THIS HEATER/BLOWER WILL COST OVER 500.00 . THIS IS NOT RIGHT SINCE A HEATER/BLOWER IS ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A VEHICLE IN THE NORTH EAST PART OF THE USA, AND FOR THAT MATTER ANYWHERE.. ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN WITH A NEW MOTOR BLOWER, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. IT COULD EVEN HAPPEN A DAY AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW ONE SINCE THIS IS THE WAY VOLVO HAS MADE THEM. I THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS THIS IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.. *JB

• 12/21/2004· AIR BAGS

  I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, 7:30 A.M., CLEAR SUNNY COLD DAY. TRAVELING 55 MPH ON I 190 EXTENSION NEAR O'HARE AIRPORT IN CHGO. THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON MY DASHBOARD (WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE) AND AN INSTANT LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. IT RIPPED APART THE DASHBOARD, AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY ACROSS. I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND QUICKLY GOT OUT. THE FUMES AND DUST FROM THE AIRBAG WERE TERRIBLE. ALTHOUGH DRIVE-ABLE, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE VOLVO OF LISLE, IL DEALER SINCE IT SEEMED TO ME TO BE AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. NO CRASH, NO ACCIDENT, NO COLLISION, AND A SPLIT SECOND WARNING.*AK THE DEALER REPS HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS. THE DEALER INITIALLY SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT WOULDN'T BEGIN ANY REPAIR UNLESS I/MY INSURER PAID THE BILL. I WAS IN TOUCH WITH VOLVO OF N.A. WITHIN 24 HOURS. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND OUT AN ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE. TO DATE, I'VE NOT GOTTEN A REPORT OR AN ANSWER ON THE STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION, MY CAR SITS UNREPAIRED AT THE DEALER, AND I'M ON WEEK 3 WITH A RENTAL CAR THAT I FEEL THEY NEED TO PAY FOR AS WELL. I COULD REALLY USE AN ADVOCATE HERE---I'M GETTING A RUN-AROUND.

• 12/17/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  1997 VOLVO 850R. GRADUAL INCREASE IN FREQUENCY OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE ABS AND TRACS LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND THEN GO OFF. THERE SEEM TO BE SO MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS THAT THIS ISN'T AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. HAVING UNPREDICTABLE BRAKES IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO I'VE GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE DISCS AND 5 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE PADS IN 90,000 MILES. EVEN WHEN THE DISCS ARE NOT WORN OUT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SPONGY EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY BLED OF AIR. THE DISCS ALSO WARP VERY EASILY EASILY. HOW CAN VOLVO TOLERATE THIS? I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER. WE PICKED UP A LEXUS YESTERDAY AND THE VOLVO IS UP FOR SALE. I CAN UNDERSTAND A MANUFACTURER HAVING PROBLEMS BUT I CANNOT FORGIVE IT'S TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

• 12/13/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MY VEHICLE IS A 1997 VOLVO 850R, I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VOLVO IS A SOILD CAR BUT THE 850 SERIES HAVE A DEFECT WITH THE ABS/TRACS MODULE, THIS SETS A CODE ON YOUR OBDII AND IT CLEARS WHEN YOU RESTART THE CAR. THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THAT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CONTROL MODULE SEES A FAULT AND DEACTIVATES THE ABS/TRACS CONTROL MODULE AND YOU NO LONGER HAVE AN ABS ON THE VEHICLE AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS IF IT'S RAINING, SNOWING OR A SUDDEN STOP ON THE FREEWAY. THE WHEELS WILL LOCK GIVING YOU A GREATER CHANCE TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SO FAR I'VE BEEN LUCKY, I SPOKE TO THE VOLVO DEALER DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY CAN CHANGE THIS UNIT UNDER THE VOLVO VIP WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND THE NEW UNIT COST AROUND $600.00 WITHOUT LABOR. I FEEL THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN CHANGING THIS ABS/TRACS CONTROL MODULE, LOT'S OF VOLVO 850'S AND S70 OWNERS HAVE CHANGED THIS PART WITH VEHICLES IN THE 40,000 TO 60,000 MILE RANGE. THE CAUSE IT'S A HAIR LINE FRACTURE ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT SETS THE FAULT, TOO ME THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND BAD QA CONTROL. I HOPE THAT THIS COMPLANIT WILL NOT JUST GET PUSHED ASIDE AND HOLD VOLVO LIABLE FOR THIS SINCE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT A VOLVO IS BEACUSE SAFETY IS THEIR #1 PRODUCT.

• 12/10/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS TRACTION LOCK LIGHT /UNIT DEFECTIVE. BRAKE INTERMITTENT. DT

• 12/05/2007· TIRES

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLVO 850. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THE TREAD THEN BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE AND CONTINUOUSLY STRUCK THE FENDER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FENDER, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND ROCKER PANEL WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 240,000.

• 12/05/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON ONE OCCASION EACH. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

• 12/01/2008· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  MY DAUGHTER USED FAMILY CAR, VOLVO 1997, 850 WAGON AND THE ACCELERATOR FAILED WIDE OPEN. SHE NARROWLY MISSED 5 YOUNG CHILDREN PLAYING STREET HOCKEY. CAR IS INOPERABLE AND MUST BE TOWED TO SERVICE STATION FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR. *TR

• 11/24/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  1. LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES STALLING DURING FREEWAY TRANSITION FROM ON RAMP TO FREEWAY AND OR DURING LEFT TURNING AGAINST TRAFFIC. 2. THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ACTION OF PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWN SHIFT CAUSING THE EXTREME SLOWING AND SOMETIMES STALLING. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE THAT TRAFFIC WAS GOING CONSIDERABLY FASTER AND HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID HITTING THE SLOWING CAR. 3. TODAY THE MEDIA REPORTED A POTENTIAL RECALL OF VOLVO'S DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 1997 MODEL 850 GLT. *JB

• 11/19/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THIS FAILURE CAUSES MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM IS A GOOD SOURCE FOR OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY WIDESPREAD AND THE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART COSTS $500 TO REPLACE AND IT CAN ALSO FAIL AT ANY TIME. DT

• 11/16/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ISSUE MY ABS CONTROL BLOCK MOTOR OPERATED FOR 30-40 SECONDS RECENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT 25-30 MPH WITH NO ABS/TRAX LITES ILLUMINATED. (BUZZING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD) BRAKES WERE VERY HARD WITH REDUCED STOPPING POWER DURING MOTOR OPERATION ON SLOWING TO 5 MPH. THE MOTOR STOPPED AND ABS/TRAX LITES ILLUMINATED WITH BRAKE FUNCTION RETURNING TO NORMAL. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE I CONSIDER THIS A RECALL ISSUE. ABS CONTROL FAILURE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES BY 850 OWNERS ON WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM. OBVIOUSLY UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A $600-700 REPAIR FOR AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY SYSTEM ON THIS CAR AND THIS SYSTEM SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION. DT

• 11/15/2010· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLVO 850. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN FUEL WAS DISPENSED INTO THE FUEL TANK TO THE FULL CAPACITY LEVEL, SHE WOULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL WAS DISPENSED TO THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK TO AVOID THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V368000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

• 11/15/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  IN RAINY CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL, AND RESULTING IN TWO CRASHES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 11/09/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ODOMETER FAILURE AT UNDER 90,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT; NOT TAMPERED WITH; VEHICLE NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

• 11/05/2002· POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

  THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHTS . *SCC

• 10/31/2007· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLVO 850. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD ALSO NOT DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT IT WAS NEVER USED BY THE CONTACT. WHEN THE SWITCH WAS ENGAGED, THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD MOMENTARILY ILLUMINATE. HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V235000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

• 10/30/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMCrash

  THIS IS SIMILAR TO PRIOR COMPLAINTS: 528520, 533799,848379,869541. WHEN DRIVING THRU A PUDDLE/IN RAIN, AT TIMES, ALL DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH AND POWER IS LOST INCLUDING TO THE STEERING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR PUMP SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT NO. 728130. I UNDERSTAND THAT WATER CAN GET INTO THE PUMP CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. ARE BOTH THESE PROBLEMS RELATED TO LIMITED "SPLASH GUARD" PROTECTION UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT?

• 10/26/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. *LA

• 10/25/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ABS ECU AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS THAT CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM A VOLVO OWNERS WEBBOARD AND YOU CAN SEARCH THERE SITE AND FIND A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WITH THIS SHORTAGE. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE CAR DOES NOT OPERATE WITH ANIT-LOCK BRAKES AND WILL LOCK UP. DT

• 10/20/2000· SEATSFire

  HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE; FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM RESTAURANT BY WHICH VEHICLE WAS STOPPED; FIRE DAMAGED THE SEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, STEERING COLUMN, FRONT DASH AND STEERING WHEEL. CARPETING OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ARM REST, ETC MAY HAVE OCCURED. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO VOLVO AND THEY ARE SENDING OUT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE CAR ON 10/25/00.

• 10/17/2000· SEATS

  DRIVER SEATBACK FRAME BROKE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGN. SEAT DID NOT ENTIRELY COLLAPSE, BUT SEAT DOES WOBBLE NOW AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISES. DEALER ADVISED $650 PARTS AND LABOR TO CORRECT PROBLEM. VOLVO ADVISES THEY WILL NOT ASSIST SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS REPAIR IS BEING PAID FOR BY MY RYAN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE SEATBEAT COULD HAVE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

• 10/11/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON REPEATEDLY. AFTER NUMEROUS RESETS BY MY VOLVO REPAIR SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE HAD FAILED. THE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $642.93. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE DOING AN AVERAGE OF ONE OR TWO SUCH REPLACEMENTS ON THIS MODEL PER WEEK AND THAT THEY BELIEVED THIS TO BE A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE FOR THIS MODEL IN GENERAL. THE REPAIR SHOP WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON VOLVOS, HUBBARD WOODS MOTORS, 985 GREENBAY ROAD, WINNETKA, IL, 60093; PHONE 8470446-0711; OWNER, ROBERT L. BERGER. *NM

• 10/11/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS TRACTION CONTROLLER FAILURE ON MY 1997 VOLOV 850 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT COSTING APPROX. $750. THE REPAIR SHOP I USE WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON VOLVOS AND HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE ON AVERAGE ONE SUCH FAILURE AND CUSTOMER REPAIR EACH WEEK. THE REPAIR SHOP IS HUBBARD WOODS MOTORS, 985 GREENBAY ROAD, WINNETKA, IL 60093, PHONE 847-446-0711, OWNER, ROBERT L. BERGER. *NM

• 10/06/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CAR WOULD NOT START - APPEARED TO BE DEAD BATTERY - REPLACED BATTERY - CAR STARTED, NEXT DAY CAR BATTERY DEAD - JUMPED BATTERY, CAR STARTED-2 HOURS LATER CAR BATTERY DEAD - TESTED NEW BATTERY TESTED OK. JUMPED BATTERY TOOK CAR TO VOLVO DEALER - LAWRENCE MOTORS IN WALNUT CREEK - TOOK SERVICE DEPARTMENT 1 DAY? TO DIAGNOSE - "WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $2,000 COST!! CAR TO BE READY IN 3 TO 4 WEEKS (SEPTEMBER 1ST), THEN DELAYED (UNKNOWN REASONS), DELAYED TO OCT 1ST, AS OF TODAYS CALL OCT 6, 2005 WAS ADVISED CAR NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL POSSIBLY NOV 1ST. WHY WOULD A CAR WITH 100,000 MILES AND 8 YEARS OLD (ALWAYS PROPERLY SERVICED) REQUIRE A NEW WIRING HARNESS? AND AT SUCH A COST? AND WHY DOES THE PART TAKE OVER 90 DAYS TO RECEIVE?*JB

• 10/01/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,WHEELS

  DUE TO FAILURE OF THIS PART I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS WHEEL LOCK-UPS AND EMERGENCY BRAKING. SEE "BRICKBOARD.COM" UNDER "850" FOR MANY REPORTS OF FAILURES. MR

• 09/30/1999· STEERING

  THE BELT THAT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR PERIODICALLY SLIPS WHEN WET. THIS OCCURS REPEATEDLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN GOING THROUGH EVEN SMALL PUDDLES. A KIT WAS ADDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT ABOUT 10K MILES. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE PERSISTENT LOSS OF POWER WITH THE KIT IS NORMAL. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE BELT STOPS SLIPPING. IT ALSO IS UNEXPECTED TO FIND THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.

• 09/26/2003· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELTS FRONT THEY ARE VERY SHORT AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE NECK I AM 5 6 AND HEAVY AND HAVE TO USE THE EXTENSION. I DO NOT THINK THE SEAT BELT IS SAFE AT ALL. IT WOULD CAUSE INJURY IN A CRASH. FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD LOWER THE SEAT BELT FASTENER SO IT COMES ACROSS THE SHOULDERS. THE ENTENDER SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IF ENOUGH SEAT BELT WAS MADE AVAILABLE. FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS.

• 09/25/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. NLM

• 09/24/2016· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10365806. WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SOME FUEL ODOR IN THE TRUNK. NO ODOR WHEN TANK IS ONLY PARTIALLY FULL, E.G., 80% FULL. ODOR NOTICED WHEN VEHICLE STATIONARY. NO ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ISSUE ONGOING FOR ROUGHLY LAST 7 YEARS (NOT SURE). NO DRIPPING FUEL OBSERVED. LEAK MAY BE AT FUEL PUMP QUICK-DISCONNECT FITTINGS. LEAK MAY HAVE STARTED AS A RESULT OF EVAP SYSTEM REPAIR IN LATE 2009--NOT SURE. DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED LEAK AT FUEL PUMP FITTINGS IN 2011, BUT ODOR ISSUE PERSISTS IF TANK COMPLETELY FULL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES SINCE 2011. I AVOID FILLING TANK COMPLETELY TO AVOID ODOR. IF I INADVERTENTLY FILL TANK COMPLETELY, ODOR RETURNS. "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" DATE I ENTERED IS JUST A ROUGH GUESS OF WHEN THE ISSUE STARTED. VEHICLE IS STORED OUTDOORS AND DRIVEN INFREQUENTLY, ~ ONCE PER WEEK AVERAGE. ODOR IS EASILY NOTICEABLE OUTDOORS WHEN TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL.

• 09/22/1999· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING IN HARD RAIN CONSUMER SAW DASH LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND THE STEERING CONTROL FAILED AND CAR CUT OFF.AFTER ABOUT THRITY SECONDS THE CAR RESTARTED. *AK

• 09/21/1999· TIRES

  THERE ARE BUBBLES WITHIN THE FRONT TIRES, AND SOMETIMES WITHIN THE REARS TIRE.CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES REPAIRED 11 TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

• 09/15/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE A 1997 VOLVO 850R THAT IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS/TRACS SYSTEM - THE LIGHTS CAME ON FOR THE ABS AND THE TRACS SYSTEM. IN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THE 850 VOLVO IS KNOWN FOR FAILURES TO ITS ABS MODULE AND THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM IN GENERAL. THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. APPARENTLY VOLVO NOW OFFERS A NEW AND IMPROVED ABS CONTROL MODULE (THAT THEY CHARGE DEARLY FOR) BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND REPLACEMENTS OF THE OLD UNITS. VOLVO SHOULD BEAR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THESE UNITS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSES INTERMITTENT PULSATION IN THE BRAKES. THE SHEAR NUMBER OF THESE INSTANCES LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.*AK

• 09/12/2001· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THIS IS A RECALL ITEM UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V235000. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE DATE RANGE ON THE RECALL NOTICE AS VERIFIED BY VOLVO'S "CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN". HOWEVER, WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE RECALLED ITEM THE VOLVO DEALER (355 - ROCKVILLE, MD) REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ITEM WITHOUT COST. THE VOLVO DEAL STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PRESENT ANYTHING TO ADEQUATELY DEMONSTATE THAT FACT. IN SPITE OF (1) THE FAILED ITEM WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL, (2) THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE RECALL TIMEFRAME; THE OWNER WAS FORCED TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL.*AK

• 09/08/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH. AS THE CONSUMER HAD TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE INTO NETTLE IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL INJECTOR COVER CAME LOOSE AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE OPEN. *NM

• 09/07/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE FAULTY...COST US $700 TO REPAIR...ACCORDING TO OUR VOLVO DEALER, VOLVO IS AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN A LOT OF VOLVO'S BUT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT CONDUCT A RECALL...THIS IS WRONG AND VOLVO NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS...IT'S AN ABSOULUTE DISGRACE...WE'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLVO...TOO MANY PROBLEMS, VERY POOR RELIABILITY!*AK

• 09/05/2000· STEERING

  BOTH VEHICLES ARE THE SAME MODELS AND YEARS, BUT ONE VEHICLE IS A SEDAN, AND THE OTHER IS WAGON, # [XXX], WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE PUDDLES WATER ENTERED POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. IT USUALLY LASTED UP TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK DRIVING IN RAIN OR LARGE PUDDLES CAUSE THE BELT TO SLIP ON THE PULLEYS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COMING ON. *YH INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 09/03/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  REPEATED INCIDENTS OF ABS/TRACTIONCONTROL WARNING LIGHT. COMPUTER READOUT SHOWS FAILURE OF ABS/TRACS COMPUTER BOARD. THIS PROBLEM IS MULTIPLY DESCRIBED ON THE INTERNET THJROUGH THE VOLVO CLUB OF AMERICA BULLETIN BOARD.*AK

• 08/29/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER STATES THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE.*JB

• 08/28/2006· AIR BAGSCrash

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

• 08/27/2014· TIRESCrash

  THE TIRE DEALER RECOMMENDED MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 AS A REPLACEMENT TIRE FOR MY 1997 VOLVO 850 (NORMALLY ASPIRATED) SEDAN. THE MICHELIN WEBSITE DESCRIBED THIS TIRE AS AN "ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE" FOR THE TIRES SPECIFIED BY VOLVO BECAUSE MICHELIN NO LONGER OFFERS HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES IN MY SIZE. STOPPING POWER IS MUCH WORSE WITH THESE NEW MICHELIN TIRES. THEY SQUEAL EASILY, EVEN AT VOLVO'S HIGHEST RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE (36PSI). I HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING FROM 50MPH IN AN EMERGENCY, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY 17 YEAR OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. I BLAME THESE NEW "COMFORT ORIENTED" TIRES. *TR

• 08/27/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE TRAC OFF LIGHT COMES ON ON MY 1997 VOLVO 850 GLT TURBO WAGON. APPARENTLY, THE TRAC, NO LONGER WORKS AND I HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND RELATES DIRECTLY TO A SAFETY CLAIM MADE BY VOLVO. FROM THE LIST SERV THAT I AM ON, APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST 1996-1998 VOLVOS. *JB

• 08/17/2006· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNUSUAL HYDROPLANING IN SMALL PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED CHUNKS ON THE OUTSIDE RIM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS UNUSUAL WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ALIGNMENT WAS BAD ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS MICHELIN. MODEL: ENERGY. SIZE: 195/60/R15.*AK

• 08/16/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ABS FAILED TO OPERATE BECAUSE THE ABS MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

• 08/16/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AIR PUMP WAS INITIALLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 02/18/1999 (MILEAGE 47462) AND FAILED AGAIN 14 MOS. LATTER (THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY). THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS $400. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS INITIALLY REPLACED 07/13/1998 (MILEAGE 33659) AND HAS FAILED JUST THIS WEEK (08/15). DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIR COST, BUT BELIEVE IT WILL BE $300-400. THESE 2 FAILURES DON'T SPEAK VERY WELL FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS USED BY VOLVO.

• 08/16/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY IS DEAD. YH

• 08/13/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MY CAR IS A 1997 VOLVO 850. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS COMPUTERS. AN INDEPENDENT VOLVO OWNERS WEBSITE NOTED OTHER 850 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE QUESTION IS VOLVO GOING TO DO A RECALL?*AK

• 08/09/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HEATING AND COOLING FAN STARTED COMING ON, 7/7/2003, CAR OVER HEATED 10/04, DEALER REPLACED FAN AT MY COST. SHIFT OVER DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON 12/04 DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH, 6/05 SHIFT OVER DRIVE SWITCH CAME BACK ON, NOW 2 SOLENOIDS ARE NOT WORKING AND MY CAR IS IN LIMP HOME MODE. NO 1ST OR 2 GEAR. *NM

• 08/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  A PIECE OF PLASTIC FOIL DROPPED OFF AND FLEW BACK AT 75MPH FROM THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE WITH NO INDICATION, THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM THAT SCOOPS THE AIR IS WHERE THE PIECE CAME FROM. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 08/02/2016· WHEELS

  GENERAL ALTIMAX RT43. I HAD 4 TIRES IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND 6,000 MILES DEVELOP SIDE WALL BUBBLES CAUSED BY TIRE PLAY SEPARATION AND BANDS BREAKING. I TIRE HADE BEEN REPLACED AND IT DEVELOPED A BUBBLE IN LESS THAN A MONTH. NO HARD DRIVING ON THE CAR AND NO POTHOLES OR RAILROAD TRACK IMPACTS. THIS IS A COMMON THREAD AND IT IS TIME FOR THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE. I HAVE NOW BOUGHT SIX TIRES IN SIX MONTHS TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED TIRES. I AM STILL WAITING TO HERE IF GENERAL WILL REPLACE ONE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAVE ANOTHER IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHILE I DRIVE AROUND ON THE SPARE TIRE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNDER NORMAL USE. PRIOR TO THIS I HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1MILLION MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A TIRE DUE TO SIDE WALL BUBBLES.

• 07/27/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK