1995 Volvo 850 Problems

ALTHOUGH THE TIRE REMAINS INFLATED, THE TREADS HAVE SPLIT OPEN EXPOSING THE BELTS. THE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: B5FT294 TIRESIZE: T11570R15)

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED, I NOTED AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE INTERIOR NOISE. AUTO HANDLED NORMALLY AT THAT TIME. WITHIN PROBABLY LESS THAN A MINUTE IT WAS CLEAR THAT NOISE CHANGE WAS NOT RELATED TO ROAD SURFACE VARIATION, AND I STARTED TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF FREEWAY. WHILE DOING SO, TIRE BLEW OUT. CAR FISHTAILED ENDING UP AGAINST GUARDRAIL. TIRE BASICALLY DESTROYED. NO INDICATION OF DEBRIS IN ROAD AT TIME PROBLEM STARTED. I AM VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS TIRE HAD NEVER BEEN PUNCTURED OR REPAIRED AND HAD NEVER HAD A PERIOD OF UNDERINFLATION. TREAD INSPECTED BY DEALER AT ROUTINE SERVICE ABOUT 5 DAYS PRIOR AND WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BY ME APPROXIMATELY 12 HRS PRIOR TO EVENT AND WAS PROPER. VERY SCARY!! *AK (TIRESIZE: 195/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/60R15 )

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.

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.

THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE INSPECTORS FOR VOLVO STATED THERE WAS LIQUID IN THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THEREFORE THEY WERE NOT LIABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB

SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN COLLISION WHERE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED, AND STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE RUNNING STOP SIGN (IMPACT SPEED UNKNOWN). IMPACT WAS ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER AND DOOR

. I HAVE SPENT $2200 IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WHILE HERB GORDON TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, CLEANED AND RESEALED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND NOW AS A LAST RESORT ARE REPLACING THE INTERNAL ABS SYSTEM, WHICH FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AIR SENSORS AND OXYGEN SENSORS SEEM TO NEED REPLACING AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. *NM

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND BACKING OUT THE DRIVE WAY, CONSUMER SAW SMOKE, SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER THEN WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO GET WATER. UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE IT WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE, AND FIRE.*AK *BF *NM

GEAR POSITION SENSOR,S1 & S2 SOLENOIDS: VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT FOR SOME TIME AND SHOULD HAVE DECLARED A RECALL.( VOLVO EVEN LOST A SMALL CLAIMS SUIT IN CALIFORNIA OVER THIS FAILURE) WHILE VOLVO PAID $900 OF THE $1300 REPAIR BILL TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE WHOLE BILL. RE: HORN FAILURE, THE VOLVO MECHANICS SAID VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALSO, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. MY CAR HAS NOT YET REACHED 50,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD TO SPEND ABOUT $1,400 DOLLARS TO REPAIR A SUNROOF, REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FIX THE SOLENOIDS AND GEAR POSITION SENSORS. I BELIEVE VOLVO SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE EXPENDITURES. I HAVE BEEN A VOLVO OWNER SINCE 1972, AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLVO AGAIN. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON A VOLVO, I COULD HAVE HAD A RELIABLE CAR LIKE A SMALL LEXUS!*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

. I HAVE SPENT $2200 IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WHILE HERB GORDON TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, CLEANED AND RESEALED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND NOW AS A LAST RESORT ARE REPLACING THE INTERNAL ABS SYSTEM, WHICH FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AIR SENSORS AND OXYGEN SENSORS SEEM TO NEED REPLACING AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. *NM

ABS/TRACKS SYSTEM FAILURE ON BOTH 1995, 850 AND 1998, V70. WHEN ABS/TRACK LIGHT(S) COMES ON, NO ABS/TRACK. LEFT FRONT WEEL MAY PULL WHEN BRAKING ON V70. VOLVO CORP. DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM... MADE SEVERAL CALLS, HAD INSPECTION/SERVICE DONE BY "CERTIFIED VOLVO SERVICE TECHNICIAN," VOLVO WILL NOT ACCEPT PROBLEM...

. I HAVE SPENT $2200 IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WHILE HERB GORDON TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, CLEANED AND RESEALED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND NOW AS A LAST RESORT ARE REPLACING THE INTERNAL ABS SYSTEM, WHICH FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AIR SENSORS AND OXYGEN SENSORS SEEM TO NEED REPLACING AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. *NM

DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES NO LONGER CONTACTS GLASS BECAUSE MOTOR SPINDLE AXIS HAS BECOME MISALIGNED FORCING WIPER ARM UP. SUSPECT THAT MOUNTING PLATE OR BRACKET FOR MOTOR HAS BECOME DISTORTED/BENT. I BENT ARM FOR TEMPORARY FIX. OTHER OWNERS OF VOLVO 850 HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS (WWW.BRICKBOARD).*JB

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

THE FRONT SEATS HAVE BROKEN THREE TIMES. THE BAND THAT KEEPS THE BACKS IN POSITION EITHER FAILS AND THE SEAT WILL NOT RETURN TO A PREVIOUS POSITION OR IT SLIPS AND FAILS TO ADJEST THE SEATS. THIS WAS FIXED AND PAID FOR TWICE. NOW WITHIN 15 MONTHS IT HAS FAILED AGAIN AND SMYTHE VOLVO WILL ONLY OFFER A 10% REDUCTION IN THE COST. THIS SHOULD LAST MONGER THEN 15 MONTHS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. WE WEIGH 124 AND 145 RESPECTIVELY. WE HAVEN'T ADJUSTED THE SEATS VERY OFTEN. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. VOLVO SAYS IT IS NOT COMMON. WE THINK IT IS DEFECTIVE REPAIR OR DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THEY SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE ADVISE.

DT: RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL S139032105, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER AN EMISSION TEST WAS DONE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS IT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR A CHECK UP. THE DEALER SAID THAT PART FOR THE EMISSION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE SAME THING. THIS WAS DONE ON JULY 18, 2005. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS PART SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS RELATED TO THE DEFECTIVE PART MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. *AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

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

CONSUMER'S HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SEATS FABRIC CONTAINED THE FIRE. *AK *NM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

DEALER INSPECTED THE STEERING WHEEL AND STATED THAT IT WILL COST $700 TO REPLACE IT. DEALER STATED THAT NONE OF THE OTHER 850 OWNERS HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HORNS. *AK

AT 70 MPH, ON CRUISE CONTROL, HAVING BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY CONTINUOUSLY FOR 60+ MILES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT OUT, THROTTLE DID NOT RESPOND, SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING FROM BEHIND VEHICLE, ENGINE QUIT AND WITHIN APPROX. 10 SECONDS OF COMING TO STOP AND DRIVER EXITING VEHICLE, CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY REFUSED COMMENT AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATION.

STOPPED AT TRAIN CROSSING, PUT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO WAIT FOR TRAIN. WHEN THE END OF THE TRAIN WAS SPOTTED I PLACED CAR IN DRIVE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR SURGED AS IF SOMEONE PUT THEIR FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SURGED THROUGH THE CROSSING GATE AND INTO THE LAST FOUR CARS OF THE TRAIN. IT HAPPENED SO FAST I WAS IN SHOCKED, BUT I DO REMEMBER TRYING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL "THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARD". VOLVO NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN SHUTTING BOTH FRONTAL DOORS CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DOOR HINGES BROKE FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS CAUSING THE DOORS NOT TO CLOSE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK

ATTACHMENT KEEPS DOOR OPEN; IT'S A METAL PIVOT SPRING BETWEEN THE DOOR HINGES ON THE INSIDE AND COVERED BY A RUBBER BOOT. ONE YEAR AGO, THE DRIVER'S DOOR ATTACHMENT BROKE OFF FROM THE BODY AND ALSO BROKE ITSELF. THIS REQUIRED WELDING A NEW PART ONTO THE BODY FOR $300. LAST WEEK, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE PART BROKE AND THE PIECE SEPARATED FROM THE PLACE WHERE IT JOINED TO THE BODY (EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE EARLIER FRONT DOOR BREAKAGE). THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER TRAUMA TO THAT SIDE. AS A RESULT, WHEN MY CHILDREN OPEN THE DOOR ON THAT SIDE, IT WON'T STAY OPEN, BUT SWINGS BACK CLOSED, POTENTIALLY HITTING THEIR LEGS. IN ADDITION, THE REPAIR ON THE FRONT DOOR IS STARTING TO GO - IT'S CREAKING AND THE METAL ON THE BODY IS FLEXING A LOT AS THE DOOR IS MOVED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLVO AMERICA INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I WAS OUT OR WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED, DOOR LOCKS WOULD CYCLE TO LOCKED AND CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. WHE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASED, DOORS WOULD UNLOCK. POTENTIAL OF LOCKS FAILING IN EITHER POSITION. *AK

DRIVER SEAT RECLINED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RETURN UPRIGHT.

. I HAVE SPENT $2200 IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WHILE HERB GORDON TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, CLEANED AND RESEALED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND NOW AS A LAST RESORT ARE REPLACING THE INTERNAL ABS SYSTEM, WHICH FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AIR SENSORS AND OXYGEN SENSORS SEEM TO NEED REPLACING AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. *NM

TIRE BLOW OUT AND RIM CRACKED COMPLETELY. YH

HEADLIGHT FAILED.

TRANSMISSION GEAR STICKS IN THE PARK POSITION.

IGNITION COIL REPLACED. *SLC