RoadVitals

1993 Volvo 850 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
73
Latest May 30, 2008
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since May 12, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 73 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Volvo 850. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 73 · page 1 of 3

Electrical
Filed May 30, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLVO 850. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE HOOD BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY COVERED FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10229332
Incident
Jan 4, 2008
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 2006

1993 VOLVO 850GLT ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. NEWSPAPER AD SAID 1999 THROUGH 2001, C70,S60,S80,V70 & V70XC. THE 850 WAS NEVER MENTIONED. HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 1998 & IT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. REAL SCARY, CAN IT BE FIXED? *NM

NHTSA ID
10171591
Incident
Sep 19, 2006
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 15, 2006

GOOD EVENING;THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION ABOUT A POTENTIAL VEHICLE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE. I AM INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A 1993 VOLVO 850 4 DOOR. SEDAN ,AUTO/A/C,4 CYL,LOADED. I WENT TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE I DROVE THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE LOT THE CAR STALLED,BUT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY. THE USED CAR DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS LOW ON FUEL THAT'S WHY THE LIGHTS STAYED ON? I DOUBT THIS VERY MUCH!!ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THESE CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM?IF SO I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU! JM *JB

NHTSA ID
10152813
Incident
Mar 14, 2006
Mileage
200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2005

I HAVE A 1993 VOLVO 850. IT HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, LOW SPEEDS, FOR OVER 10 YEARS. NO ONE HAS EVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. SINCE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING CURRENT VOLVO MODELS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER INVESTIGATING THE OLDER MODELS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10131485
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2004

SRS LIGHT IS ON. BROUGHT TO LOVERING VOLVO AND THEY ADVISED THE WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. IN READING PAST COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SIGHT, I SEE QUITE A FEW ARIBAG PROBLEMS, ONE BEING THAT THE WIRES ARE CROSSED FROM PRODUCTION AND THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. I ALSO SEE MANY COMPLAINTS THAT AIRBAGS ARE DEPLOYING FOR NO REASON....IS THIS BECAUSE OF THIS WIRING??? I THINK VOLVO NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. RIGHT NOW I AM DRIVING WITHOUT AIRBAGS BECAUSE OF THE COST. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING THE SAME!! VOLVO NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE ASAP BEFORE A LAWSUIT ARISES!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10100022
Incident
Nov 15, 2004
Electrical
Filed Aug 5, 2004

THE ENGINE WILL CEASE SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086281
Incident
Jul 31, 2004
Mileage
121,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Sep 2, 2003

FAILED TRANSMISSION AFTER 45,000 MILES. EXTENDED WARRANTY REPLACED IT. FAILED CONTROL SWITCH FOR AIR CONDITIONING A/C AND EVAPORATOR UNIT AT 135,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037093
Incident
Aug 28, 2003
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 16, 2003

1993 VOLVO 850 GLT HAS BEEN JUST "TURNING OFF" DURING DRIVING, 20-60 MPH. NEVER AT IDLE. YOU MUST COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND MY LOCAL GARAGE TWICE AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT CORRECTED. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION THAT ALMOST CREATED AN ACCIDENT THIS PAST WEEK. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032928
Incident
Aug 16, 2003
Brakes
Filed May 21, 2003

NAR 05/21/2003. *MR DEFECTIVE ANTILOCK BRAKE PUMP. *CB

NHTSA ID
10021565
Incident
Feb 20, 2003
Body & structureFuel systemVisibility
Filed Dec 26, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHILED BLADES WERE REPLACED, THE GASOLINE TANK WAS LEAKING, AND THE HOOD LATCHES WERE ADJUSTED.*JB

NHTSA ID
568577
Airbags
Filed Dec 3, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING BURNT ON THEIR NECK AND STOMACH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
8023575
Incident
Jun 3, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2002

THE PLASTIC GASOLINE TANK LEAKED GASOLINE. *SCC

NHTSA ID
567713
Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 2002

I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 99,000 AND NOW AT 27,000 ON THE ORGINAL VOLVO REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION I HAVE TO REPLACE THE SECOND TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION OF THE 850 VOLVO IS A LEMON. *AK

NHTSA ID
767578
Incident
Sep 10, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 28, 2002
Fire reported

DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN PARKING GARAGE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017447
Incident
Aug 23, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 15, 2002

CONSUMER WAS JACKING VEHICLE UP AND JACK BROKE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016467
Incident
Aug 15, 2002
Heating & air conditioningFuel system
Filed Jul 8, 2002

FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, CONSUMER STATES THAT CLOSE EXAMINATION SHOWED THE PLASTIC CASING WAS DISENTEGRATING, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
566450
Incident
Aug 29, 2001
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Mar 15, 2002

REPLACED 7 TIRES. TOO MANY FOR LOW MILES. VOLVO FRONT END CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR?*AK (TIRESIZE: 195/60VR15)

NHTSA ID
759415
Seat belts
Filed Feb 6, 2002

DRIVER'S SIDE BELT WILL NOT ENGAGE, REAR LEFT BELT WILL NOT DISENGAGE, REAR RIGHT BELT VERY HARD TO DISENGAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID
757870
Incident
Feb 6, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Jan 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE, IT WOULD UNLOCK WHEN LEANING FORWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
8002375
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2001
Fire reported

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, ONE OF TWO FACTORY INSTALLED "FOG LAMPS" BROKE OUT OF ITS HOLDING BRACKET AND STARTED A FIRE, WHICH BURNED THE PLASTIC FOR THE LAMP HOUSING. DEALERSHIP LATER REPAIRED AND REPLACED THE FOG LAMP. THEN, DURING THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST 2001, THE OTHER FOG LAMP BROKE LOOSE AND BEGAN TO BURN PLASTIC LAMP HOUSING. CONSUMER RECOGNIZED PROBLEM AND TURNED LIGHT OFF. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. *AK DEALER STATES THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY BRACKETS ALSO. *SLC

NHTSA ID
898341
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 3, 2001

ENGINE KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING, AFTER AN INITIAL WARM-UP PERIOD. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE 4 TIMES, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I THINK IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED BY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS.*AK

NHTSA ID
751581
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jul 17, 2001

ONCE THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP THE VEHICLE ACTS AS THOUGHT IT IS IN NEUTRAL. NLM

NHTSA ID
785539
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jun 14, 2001

BACK OF INTEGRAL CHILD SAFETY SEAT DOES NOT STAY UPRIGHT, AND WILL FALL BACKWARDS INTO STORAGE COMPARTMENT OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
890388
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2001

PASSENGER'S AIR BAG STICKS OUT FROM DASH BOARD. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK

NHTSA ID
890294
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 8, 2001

CONSUMER STATES HE HAS TO USE SHIFT OVERRIDE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK TO PUT IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
561107

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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