FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
1995 Volvo 850
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 111 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Volvo 850, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, fuel system and airbags categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 137 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 29 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 30 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 31 |
| Mar 1998 | 5 | 36 |
| May 1998 | 4 | 40 |
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 41 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 42 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 43 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 44 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 45 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 46 |
| Apr 1999 | 3 | 49 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 50 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 52 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 53 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 54 |
| Oct 1999 | 3 | 57 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 58 |
| Jan 2000 | 3 | 61 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 62 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 64 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 65 |
| Jul 2000 | 2 | 67 |
| Aug 2000 | 2 | 69 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 70 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 71 |
| Nov 2000 | 2 | 73 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 74 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 75 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 76 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 77 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 78 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 79 |
| Feb 2002 | 2 | 81 |
| Apr 2002 | 2 | 83 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 84 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 85 |
| Oct 2002 | 2 | 87 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 88 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 89 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 90 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 91 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 92 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 94 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 95 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 96 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 97 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 98 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 99 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 100 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 101 |
| Oct 2005 | 2 | 103 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 104 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 105 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 106 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 107 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 108 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 109 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 110 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 111 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Tires & wheels1410.4%
- Fuel system139.7%
- Airbags139.7%
- Electrical139.7%
- Transmission129.0%
- Brakes118.2%
- Visibility107.5%
- Seat belts96.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT; EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:INTEGRATED JACK/LEVELER/STABILIZER
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL TANK LEAKS
THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WAS OPENED ON JUNE 11, 2003, BASED ON 54 REPORTS OF FUEL TANK LEAKS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 1993 THROUGH 1996 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES. MODEL 850 WAS ALSO PRODUCED IN MY 1997 AND WAS INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALS TWO DISTINCT ISSUES. FIRST, THE 1994 THROUGH 1997 MY VEHICLES STAND OUT BY ACCOUNTING FOR 95 PERCENT OF THE REPORTED LEAKS.THESE VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME FUEL TANK DESIGN (PN 9142618). THE 1993 MY VEHICLE USES A DIFFERENT FUEL TANK DESIGN (PN 9141101).SECONDLY, THE FAILURES OCCURRED PREDOMINANTLY IN HOT CLIMATES, E.G., CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, TEXAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, ETC.TESTING OF FUEL TANKS FROM CONSUMER VEHICLES AT THE VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TEST CENTER CONFIRMED LEAKS THROUGH CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANK WALL AT A HEAT SHIELD MOUNTING ATTACHMENT IN THE 1994 THROUGH 1997 MY FUEL TANKS (PN9142618). DETAILS OF THE TESTS ARE AVAILABLE IN TEST REPORT VRTC-DCD3060.VOLVO WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON ALL MY 1994 THROUGH 1997 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 17 HOT STATES: CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL, NC, TN, AR, OK, UT, NV, AND HI.ALL 1994 THROUGH 1997 MY VEHICLES IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE REMEDIED UNDER A SERVICE CAMPAIGN.THE REMEDY FOR BOTH THE RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN IS TO INSTALL A NEW BUSHING AT EACH HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINT (3 PER TANK).ALSO, ALL TANKS (VEHICLES IN ALL STATES) WILL BE INSPECTED FOR FUEL SEEPAGE AT THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINTS AND VOLVO WILL REPLACE ANY TANK SHOWING SIGNS OF FUEL SEEPAGE.THE NEW BUSHINGS WILL PREVENT HEAT SHIELD STRESSES FROM BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE THREE HEAT SHIELD MOUNTING ATTACHMENTS ON THE FUEL TANK.THE SAFETY RECALL IS FILED UNDER NHTSA SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 04V368.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
FUEL TANK LEAKS
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THISINVESTIGATION ON JANUARY 16, 2003.THE BASIS FOR OPENING THE INVESTIGATION WAS 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL STORAGE TANK.VOLVO PROVIDED 43 ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, 4 OF WHICH WERE DUPLICATES OF THE 15 ODI REPORTS. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 850. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL WAS EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SMELL FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND ANOTHER CRACKED HOSE WAS REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COLD SEE GASOLINE FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK WHENEVER REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V368000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. HE WAS INFORMED THAT AN EXHAUST PIPE WOULD OCCASIONALLY STRIKE THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE TANK. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10502506
- Incident
- Dec 12, 2012
- Mileage
- 147,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 850. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RECEIVING REPAIRS FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V368000 (COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE), THE VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING A FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER IT FAILED TO PASS A SMOG TEST, AS A RESULT OF AN EVOP LEAKAGE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD ALREADY PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIRS AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME, WHICH DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE PRIOR DIAGNOSIS WERE INCORRECT, AND THAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS THE VENT HOSE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,007.
- NHTSA ID
- 10416974
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2011
- Mileage
- 116,007 mi
1995 VOLVO 850 GLT, DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTING MECHANISM (THE ROLLER NEAR DRIVER'S LEFT SHOULDER) WAS STUCK. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT THE BELT, SOMETIMES PULLING SLOWLY AND LITTLE BY LITTLE SEEMS TO WORK IT AROUND. SPRAYED SOME LUBRICANT CAN FREE IT UP FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT THE SEAT BELT OUT AGAIN ... IT SEEMS TO HAVE A DEFECTED DESIGN SOMEWHERE INSIDE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10350322
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2010
- Mileage
- 110,000 mi
MY 1995 VOLVO 850 DEVELOPED A GAS TANK LEAK AT A HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT. THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT THAT LED TO A SAFETY RECALL OF VOLVO 850'S IN CERTAIN SOUTHERN STATES AND A SERVICE RECALL IN THE OTHER STATES IN 2004 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V368000). I WAS NEVER PROVIDED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL, AND VOLVO NOW REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK--A SUBSTANTIAL EXPENSE APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A SAFETY DEFECT THAT THE COMPANY FAILED TO REMEDY. I AM HAVING A NEW GAS TANK PUT IN BY A VOLVO DEALER TODAY. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I SAW THAT OTHER AFFECTED VOLVO OWNERS DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL FROM VOLVO. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10267336
- Incident
- Apr 27, 2009
- Mileage
- 91,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 850. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE FLOOR OF HIS GARAGE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THROUGH RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA03008, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V368000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL, HIS VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,900. UPDATED 01/08/09.*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10251949
- Incident
- Dec 14, 2008
- Mileage
- 117,900 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 850. THE CONTACT NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LEAKED OCCURRED WHERE THE HEAT SHIELD WAS ATTACHED. THERE IS A RECALL FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V368000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,750 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10217052
- Incident
- Jan 30, 2008
- Mileage
- 112,750 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 VOLVO 850. HE NOTICED A GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT GAS LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN HE FILLS IT UP. HE HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10192953
- Incident
- Jun 3, 2007
- Mileage
- 132,000 mi
MY WIFE & DAUGHTER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE DRIVING ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THEY STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AND GOT OUT. AS MY WIFE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE BACK SEAT TO GET HER PURSE, SHE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THEY RAN TO THE NEAREST HOUSE TO CALL 911. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH 911, LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, MY WIFE SAW THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON THE SCENE WITHIN 3 MINUTES, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. WHAT HAD BEEN LEATHER SEATS WERE NOW METAL FRAMES, THE DASHBOARD HAD EVAPORATED, AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. ALTHOUGH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED THE LOSS OF THE CAR, WE HAVE HAD TO SPEND SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE BURNT POSSESSIONS (LIKE A CELL PHONE AND A PDA) AND PAY FOR CAR RENTAL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE SEAT HEATER WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT VOLVO HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY PRODUCT FAILURE. WHEN WE BOUGHT A VOLVO BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION FOR SAFETY ("VOLVO FOR LIFE"), WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BURN UP! *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10145509
- Incident
- Nov 6, 2005
- Mileage
- 96,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.