RoadVitals

1996 Volvo 850 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Jan 14, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 192 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Volvo 850 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalInterior & seatsSuspension+1 more
Filed Jan 14, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10376732
Incident
Dec 1, 2010
Mileage
150,805 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10117023
Incident
Mar 15, 2004
Mileage
32,500 mi
Electrical
Filed May 20, 2004
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10073954
Mileage
73,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 24, 2003
Fire reported

CONSUMER NOTICED AN ODD SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND PUT FIRE OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040474
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 3, 2003
Fire reported

THE ENTIRE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED BEFORE THE FUSEABLE LINK OPENED THE CIRCUIT. THIS CLEARLY IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN. IN FACT, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IF MY WIFE HAD NOT TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN SHE DID, DUE TO THE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE FAN, THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MOST LIKELY THE RESULTING FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR AS THE MELTED WIRING HARNESS IS DIRECTLY UNDER AND AROUND THE ENGINES FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE, AND WAS APPALLED BY HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING WAS FUSED TOGETHER. IF THE SAFETY DESIGN (FUSEABLE LINK) OF THE FAN CIRCUIT HAD WORKED PROPERLY THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT I SAW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY WIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN PERSONAL DANGER.I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO VOLVO AMERICA AND THEY CONTEND THAT A LOOSE FAN MOUNT CAUSED THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS AT A LOSE TO EXPLAIN THIS POSITION TO ME AS THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS RELEVENT TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED AS THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030704
Incident
Jun 4, 2003
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed Feb 20, 2001

LEFT FRONT CALIPER BROKE IN JANUARY 1999, ROGHT FRONT CALIPER BROKE AT THIS TIME. PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 3 MONTHS TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK CONSUMER HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WERE REPLACED, DASH BULB LIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS REPLACED. HEADLIGHT WIPER AND WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES REPLACED. CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND LATER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, EVAPORATOR, RECEIVER, AND DRYER. BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER HAD A RECALL ON THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL RELAY AND WHEN RETURNING TO VEHICLE THAT WAS SHUT OFF THE PHONE AND RADIO WERE ON. COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED 4 TIMES, FINALLY DEALER REPLACED THE COOLANT FILLER CAP, ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS ILLUMINATED, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PNP SWITCH, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR PUMP, AND CHECK VALVE, THE AIR PUMP AND CHECK VALVE WERE REPLACED TWICE, THE TIMING BELT HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. ABS SENSOR CABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
880868
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
BrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 25, 2000
Fire reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735077
Incident
Oct 24, 2000
BrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 24, 2000
Fire reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735024
Incident
Oct 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 24, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735022
Incident
Oct 24, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 19, 2000

CAR WILL NOT START, PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ALMOST ANY TIME. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CLAIM THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WROTE TO VOLVO ONE MONTH AGO AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA ID
725685
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Aug 19, 1999

VEHICLE IS PARKED; HEADLIGHTS WILL BLINK ON AND OFF, MOTOR WON'T TURN OVER AND STEERING WHEEL IS SMOKING WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
845378
Incident
Apr 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Mar 22, 1999

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE ABS BRAKES TO OPERATE RANDOMLY, AND ALSO SEAT BELT INDICATOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
834889
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 27, 1997

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
603569
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 22, 1997

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604470
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 22, 1997

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604326
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 1997

RADIO CASSETTE UNIT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605146
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Nov 27, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING AT SPEED 65MPH, VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, IN FOR REPAIR , WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
804346
Incident
Oct 26, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .