1993 Volvo 850

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.

Risk. 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE PLASTIC GASOLINE TANK LEAKED GASOLINE. *SCC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE SHIFT OVER RIDE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK.*AK

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A CAR THAT I SERVICED EVERY 3-5K MILES. *AK

SERVICE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE TIMING BELT PER VOLVO MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS REQUIREMENT - LUCKILY THE BELT BROKE WHEN I WAS STOPPED - 5 MIN PRIOR I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON FREEWAY. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS UPON ACCELEATION. NLM

POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW DISCOVERED - AIR BAG WIRING HAS FAILED THROUGH POOR DESIGN. ACCORDING TO DEALER SERVICE, THE AIR BAG POWER WIRE HAS SLIPPED INTO THE TILT WHEEL MECHANISM AND PINCHED IT TO THE POINT OF SHEARING THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING A SHORT WHICH HAS DISABLED THE ENTIRE SRS. THIS IS A NON-CONTACT, NON-WEAR PART AND HAS FAILED SOLELY DUE TO POOR DESIGN. COST TO REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE. VOLVO USA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE ANY FATALITIES!!! *AK

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS VOLVO SPECIALISTS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE 1993 MODEL 850, AND THAT THE 1994 AND LATER GEARBOXES WERE REVISED.. *AK

ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED, BELT TENSIONER REPLACED, GEAR SHIFT BOX LOCKED UP AND GEAR COULD NOT BE CHANGED UNLESS GEAR SHIFT OVERRIDE PRESSED, WINTER TRACTION SYSTEM ENGAGED ON ITS OWN

AIR CONDITIONER ODOR. *MJS

TRANSMISSION WOULD STUMBLE WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING, THEN WOULD SLIP BADLY. *AK

1. AUTO TRANS FAILED WITH GRINDING/SLIPPAGE. AT MY EXPENSE A REBUILT VOLVO TRANS INSTALLED IN 2-99. ABOUT 6000 MILES LATER AGAIN FAILURE WITH SLIPPAGE. ANOTHER REBUILT TRANS WAS INSTALLED...SO FAR IT'S GOOD. 2. A/C COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER HAVE BOTH FAILED . REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. 3. RADIO FAILED TO GET FM AT ABOUT 40K MILES. REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. ARE THERE ANY TECHNICAL BULLITENS REGARDING THESE ISSUES? ESPECIALLY THE EXPENSIVE TRANS PROBLEMS? PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY . THANK YOU

HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY - GLASS CRACKED FROM SAME CORNER LOCATION CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE REQUIRING FULL REPLACEMENT, FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE IN THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

IN 2/96 I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACE/REBULIT BECAUSE OF THE BELT BROKE. NOW 3 YEARS LATER THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACE AGAIN FOR BECAUSE THE EXHAUST VALVE BURN. I DID NOT GET ANY NOTICE FROM THE CAR THAT THE CAR WAS HOT OR ANY PROBLEMS. ALL I HEARD WAS A TICKLING SOUND AND TOOK TO DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IS , HOW OFFEN DO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE A ENGINE OR CYLINDER HEAD IN THE 1993 VOLVO 850 GLT. I NEED HELP??? ALL I HAVE DONE IS PUT MONEY INTO THIS CAR AND HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. I ALOS HAVE MANY MORE PROBLEMS LIKE THE DRIVER SEAT DO NOT ADJ. I AM SEAT SO FAR BACK IN THE CHAIR BECAUSE THE POWER SEAT/ MEMORY DO NOT WORK. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME.

NO SUMMARY

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE ALSO SWITCHED TO "WINTER MODE" AT VARIOUS TIMES. *AK*AK

STRUTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BREAK AND DETACH FROM WHEEL ASSEMBLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER. *AK

STEERING PUMP FAILURE.

GAS TANK IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL SENSOR CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE GOES INTO A "WINTER MODE" DRIVING AT VARIOUS TIMES.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.