1996 VOLVO 850 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
235
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
6
Service Bulletins
2
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 VOLVO 850
The 1996 VOLVO 850 has received a total of 235 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE. 6 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volvo Car USA, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (32 complaints), Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly (20 complaints), and Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler (11 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 VOLVO 850
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1996 VOLVO 850, potentially affecting up to 291,400 vehicles.
Recall 04V368000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
| 226,000 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HEAT, THE FUEL TANK MAY SEEP OR LEAK FUEL AT THE POINTS WHERE THE HEAT SHIELD IS ATTACHED.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE IT IF ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL SEEPAGE OR LEAKAGE IS FOUND. ALL VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE NEW REINFORCEMENT BUSHINGS AT THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS. THIS RECALL WILL BE...
View full details →Recall 02V314000 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
| 65,000 vehicles affected
Defect: ON SOME SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT HEATERS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION OF THE SEAT CUSHION COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OF THE SEAT HEATER.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT THE EXISTING WIRES AND INSTALL A NEW ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT AND CABLE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT...
View full details →Recall 96E025000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
| 400 vehicles affected
Defect: ENGINE BLOCK HEATERS INSTALLED AS ACCESSORIES. THE BLOCK HEATER CONTACT SURFACE DOES NOT MATCH CORRECTLY WITH THE ENGINE BLOCK AS INTENDED. THE BLOCK HEATER COULD COME LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND IF BEING USED, COULD POSSIBLY OVERHEAT CAUSING DAMAGE IF IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH OTHER ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS.
Consequence: ENGINE COMPARTMENT DAMAGE COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BLOCK HEATER AND SECURE THE BOLTS USED TO INSTALL THE HEATER. IN SOME CASES, THE SURFACE TOLERANCES MAY BE SO INAPPROPRIATE THAT THE HEATER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A HEATER OF A MODIFIED DESIGN.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 VOLVO 850
235 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 VOLVO 850. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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
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
View all Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1996 VOLVO 850
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 VOLVO 850 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 VOLVO 850
Volvo Car USA, LLC has issued 6 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 VOLVO 850. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SC-140 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VOLVO: TSB CONTAINS AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. THE FUEL TANK, ON SOME VEHICLES, WILL DEVELOP A CRACK AT HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT, IF EXPOSED TO PROLONGED EXTREME HEAT AND THE ODOR OF FUEL IS PRESENT AND POSSIBILITY OF FUEL LEAKAGE. MODEL 1994-97 850. *PE
RC-139 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VOLVO: TSB CONTAINS AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, LOCATED AT HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT, FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOP A SEEPAGE OF FUEL, DUE TO BEING EXPOSED TO EXTREME HEAT AND FUEL ODOR WOULD BE PRESENT CAUSING A FIRE IF IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION...
2334 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENHANCED INSPECTION / MAINTENANCE (I/M) PROGRAMS. THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 1996 VOLVO MODEL 850 AND 1996 - 1997 VOLVO MODEL 960. FOR THESE VEHICLES, INCOMPLETE READINESS CODES WILL NOT INHIBIT THE OBD II SYSTEM FROM MONITORING, DETECTING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY STORING A CORRESPONDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE IN SYSTEM MEMORY....
010401 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED WITH VOLVO OBDII READINESS CODES AND SERVES AS ADVISORY INFORMATION FOR STATE INSPECTION / MAINTENANCE (I/M) PROGRAMS. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (US EPA). *TT
590005 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS SERVICE BULLETIN IDENTIFIES AN INSPECTION PROCESS FOR THE EBD SWITCH AND REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR SYSTEM COMPONENTS. *TT
81815 — STRUCTURE:BODY
INFORMATION WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR BODY REPAIRS. *YC
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 VOLVO 850
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 1996 VOLVO 850.
Other Model Years of the VOLVO 850
- 1992 VOLVO 850 — 0 complaints
- 1993 VOLVO 850 — 96 complaints
- 1994 VOLVO 850 — 108 complaints
- 1995 VOLVO 850 — 148 complaints
- 1996 VOLVO 850 (current)
- 1997 VOLVO 850 — 142 complaints
- 1998 VOLVO 850 — 0 complaints
- 1999 VOLVO 850 — 2 complaints
- 2000 VOLVO 850 — 1 complaint
Other VOLVO Models
- VOLVO XC90 — 2,131 total complaints
- VOLVO S60 — 1,655 total complaints
- VOLVO S80 — 1,320 total complaints
- VOLVO V70 — 1,177 total complaints
- VOLVO XC60 — 846 total complaints
- VOLVO S70 — 780 total complaints
- VOLVO S40 — 677 total complaints
- VOLVO V70XC — 521 total complaints