1996 VOLVO 850 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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.

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS FOUR COOPER ZEON SPT TIRES, SIZE 205 55 R16. THE CONTACT WAS ROTATING THE TIRES, WHEN HE NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS BALD. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIRES WERE DOWN TO THE WEAR BAR. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 100,00 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

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. *TT

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 SHIELD I CALLED VOLVO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY FOR MY VIN # THERE IS NO RECALL; ON THE INTERNET THERE IS A RECALL FOR 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. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 9, 2008 I PURCHASED AT MAVIS TIRE FOUR (4) NEW COOPER ZEON TIRES WITH A RATING OF 400 AAA. IN APPROXIMATELY SIX THOUSAND (6,000) I FIND ONE PAIR COMPLETELY WORN WHILE THE OTHER SET FULL THREAD. I CALLED MAVIS TIRE AND SPOKE WITH STU WHO SAID HE IS THE MANAGER. HE SUGGESTED I COME INTO THE TIRE SHOP SO HE MAY INSPECT THE TIRES. ON MARCH 2011, I DROVE TO LONG BEACH, LONG ISLAND WHERE THE SHOP IS LOCATED. STU INSPECTED THE TIRES AND AGREED WITH ME THAT SOMETHING WAS DEFECTIVE WITH THE TWO TIRES IN QUESTION. STU THEN TOLD ME HE WOULD CHECK WITH HIS SUPERVISOR AND GET BACK TO ME. STU THEN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME TO PLACE A CLAIM WITH COOPER TIRES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THEIR PHONE NUMBER WAS AT THEIR WEB SITE. I COULD NOT FIND A NUMBER TO CALL BUT DID FIND AN PLACE TO SUBMIT AN EMAIL. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THIS WAS THE RESPONSE: ?COOPER PRODUCTS ARE BACKED BY A WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIALS WARRANTY THAT OUR INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERS ADMINISTER ON A REGULAR BASIS. ANY TIRE THAT IS DEEMED TO HAVE AN ELIGIBLE ADJUSTABLE CONDITION AS DETERMINED BY ONE OF OUR INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERS SHALL BE PROCESSED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE COOPER WARRANTY PROGRAM. OUR INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALERS MAKE THE DETERMINATION ON WHAT QUALIFIES AS AN ELIGIBLE ADJUSTABLE CONDITION, AND HANDLE ALL WARRANTY RETURNS. WE OFFER MILEAGE WARRANTIES ON SEVERAL TIRE MODELS. WE DO NOT OFFER MILEAGE ON PERFORMANCE TIRES, WHICH INCLUDES ALL ZEON MODELS. [XXX] CONSUMER QUALITY SYSTEMS COOPER TIRE & RUBBER CO. 800-854-6288 M-F 8-5 EST.? I THEN PLACE A CALL TO STU AND ADVISED HIM OF THE SITUATION. I NEVER MADE A CLAIM ABOUT MILEAGE WEAR. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON THE TIRES IN QUESTION. THE MUST BE A DEFECT IN THESE TIRES. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MAVIS TIRE [XXX] HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ME. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CONTACT IN OVER A WEEK SO IT IS TIME OR ME TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. IF I WAS NOT SO FASTEDIOUS IN CHECKING MY VEHICLE I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN (OR EXPECTED) THESE TIRES TO FAIL. *TR

TL* 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 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK LID LATCH WAS FAULTY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. UPDATED 04/29/11

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. *TR

TL*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.

Fire

CONSUMER HAS ISSUES ABOUT 1996 VOLVO 850 ENGINE. *NJ THE 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. *JB

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 - *TR

1996 VOLVO 850 ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENT NOT SURE IF ABS IS WORKING OR NOT COMES AND GOES. *TR

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.

CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE BEGAN TO DETECT CREAKING SOUNDS EVERY TIME SHE OPENED AND CLOSED THE FRONT DOOR ON THE DRIVER' SIDE**CC THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME OF THE DOOR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

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.

> 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 DOMINSKI FAIRFAX, VA. *JB

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. *NM

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.

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. *NM

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.

Crash Fire

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 MEANS 90% CHANCE TOTAL FAILURE OF UNIT IS INVOLVED. REPAIR COST IS PROHIBITIVE. REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE UNIT IS $650 TO $900.00.

DT: ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK, V THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FLAW IN VOLVO'S MANUFACTURING. *AK 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 *NM

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 WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK *JB

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. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

SEAT HEATERS WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL, BUT HEATERS MALFUNCTIONED AFTER REPLACEMENT. DEALER WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *LA THE 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. *NM

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 THAT ABS PUMP MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1 injured

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 MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULAR UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WILL NOT EXTEND, RESULT IN INOPERABLE SEAT BELTS. *AK THE SEAT BELT FOR THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT WOULD NOT EXTEND TO ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO FASTEN THE CHILD IN THE SEAT. *NM

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.*AK

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. *NM

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. *AK

Fire

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.

EXHAUST: CATALYTIC CONVERTEWR FAILED/PLUGGED UP. TRANSMISSION: SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON ON SHIFTER LOCKED UP.

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

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 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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. *JB

CAR VIBRATES AND A LOUD RESONANCE IS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT 30 MPH OR BELOW. *NM

GAS TANK LEAKS. *AK

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. *JB