1997 Volvo 850 complaints

THE ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY 1997 VOLVO 850 HAS AN INTERNAL SHORT OR LOOSE CONNECTION AS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP. IF YOU DO RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER ON THE INTERNET OR BY CALLING THE VOLVO DEALERSHIPS, YOU WILL FIND THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY IN THESE CARS. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON THERE IS NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND THIS CAN CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP DURING HARD BRAKING APPLICATIONS, AND EASILY ON MOIST OR WET ROADS. AS A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE ON THESE CARS AND ESPECIALLY A VOLVO, WHO IS KNOWN FOR THEIR SAFE AUTOMOBILES THIS CONTROL MODULE FAILS VERY OFTEN AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF BRAKES LOCK UP IN A PANIC STOP. JB

THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED.*JB

DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE ON 1997 VOLVO 850 T5

I OWN A 1997 VOLVO 850 GLT. IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS COMPUTER, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I GOT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK IT IN WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH 10,000 MILES REMAINING ON THE WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND SEVERAL CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BUT IS COVERED NOW, FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.

ABS TRACTION LOCK LIGHT /UNIT DEFECTIVE. BRAKE INTERMITTENT. DT

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THIS FAILURE CAUSES MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM IS A GOOD SOURCE FOR OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY WIDESPREAD AND THE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART COSTS $500 TO REPLACE AND IT CAN ALSO FAIL AT ANY TIME. DT

ISSUE MY ABS CONTROL BLOCK MOTOR OPERATED FOR 30-40 SECONDS RECENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT 25-30 MPH WITH NO ABS/TRAX LITES ILLUMINATED. (BUZZING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD) BRAKES WERE VERY HARD WITH REDUCED STOPPING POWER DURING MOTOR OPERATION ON SLOWING TO 5 MPH. THE MOTOR STOPPED AND ABS/TRAX LITES ILLUMINATED WITH BRAKE FUNCTION RETURNING TO NORMAL. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE I CONSIDER THIS A RECALL ISSUE. ABS CONTROL FAILURE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES BY 850 OWNERS ON WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM. OBVIOUSLY UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A $600-700 REPAIR FOR AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY SYSTEM ON THIS CAR AND THIS SYSTEM SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION. DT

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHTS . *SCC

THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ABS ECU AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS THAT CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM A VOLVO OWNERS WEBBOARD AND YOU CAN SEARCH THERE SITE AND FIND A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WITH THIS SHORTAGE. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE CAR DOES NOT OPERATE WITH ANIT-LOCK BRAKES AND WILL LOCK UP. DT

DUE TO FAILURE OF THIS PART I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS WHEEL LOCK-UPS AND EMERGENCY BRAKING. SEE "BRICKBOARD.COM" UNDER "850" FOR MANY REPORTS OF FAILURES. MR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY SCREECH, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WERE JUST GLAZING, HOWEVER THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS STARTED ACTIVATING INAPPROPRIATELY WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT MOST LIKELY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR.*JB

PLASTIC ON CHILD SEAT LOCK CRACKED/ASSEMBLY FELL APART WITHOUT ANY STRESS OR TENSION BEING APPLIED TO IT.

THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR 3-5 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON WHEN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BOTTOM HEATER CAUGHT FIRE, THE INVESIGATOR REPORTED THAT THIS FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF UNREGULATED OPERATION OF THE HEATER PAD WIRES. NLM

RUBBER BOOTS FELL OFF BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, CAUSING CYLINDER WALLS TO RUST AND CORRIDE WHICH, IN TURN, WOULD NOT ALLOW PISTONS TO DETRACT. DEALER SAID THE CALIPERS WERE A MANUFACTURING DESIGN DEFECT BECASUE THE BOOTS SHOULD NOT FALL OFF SO EAISLY AND IS CONTACTING THE VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WHEN IT SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED UP. FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. CLAIM# 20-5456-209 *JG

AFTER NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DEALER FOUND THAT LEAKAGE WAS COMING FROM FUEL LINES, WICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

DEALER HAD FOUND A CRACK ON AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, WICH WILL NOT LET HEAT TO GET ONTO FLOOR LEVEL. CONSUMER HAD NOTICED PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT HEATER SHORTED, CAUSING THE IGNITION OF A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. OUR VOLVO DEALER DESCRIBED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS NORMAL USE, I.E., FEET OR OTHER ITEMS UNDER THE SEAT HAD KNOCKED THE CONNECTION LOOSE. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED, ALTHOUGH OUR 10 MONTH OLD INFANT WAS IN THE CAR, STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT (IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR SEAT) WHILE THE DRIVER WAS OPENING A RESIDENTIAL GATE. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE DRIVER NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DRIVER RAN BACK TO THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER HAD LEFT THE FRONT DOOR OPEN WHILE LEAVING THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE GATE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR BABY OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE SHE HAD INHALED A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. WE DROVE A VOLVO FOR SAFETY, BUT NO LONGER. VOLVO'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BUT RESPONDED WITH ONLY AN APOLOGY AND NO RECOGNITION THAT THERE MAY BE A SAFETY DEFECT.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DRIVER'S SEAT FIRE IN ODI #758194 - I SIMPLY WANT TO CROSS-REFERENCE ODI #'S 734813 AND 560677 WHICH HAVE THE SAME FACT PATTERN. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS DEFECT? MY BABY COULD HAVE DIED FROM THE SMOKE INHALATION, LET ALONE THE FIRE IF WE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE HER FROM THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THIS DEFECT BE INVESTIGATED AND REMEDIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SINCE THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE IS SEVERE - I.E., DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.

BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MARCH OF 1999, BATTERY HAD A 5 YEAR WARRANTY. AT THIS TIME BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED IN TO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL GO IN THAT DIRECTION WITHOUT CONSUMER PUSHING CLUTCH AND GAS IN, VEHICLE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME, CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING ASSIST. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE, AND DRIVER DOOR AND FENDER WERE DAMAGED, THE DEALER STATED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO INSTALL A SAFETY SWITCH ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *YH

THE UNIROYAL FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE THAT I RECENTLY SPOKE TO BY TELEPHONE WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE OF ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES THAT I PURCHASED IN MAY 1999. I FELT THAT IT WAS CRUCIAL TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA REGARDING MY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE UNIROYAL TIRES, SO THAT I MAY PREVENT A FELLOW CITIZEN(S) FROM SUFFERING FROM INJURY AND/OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE SAME TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BET2 BEUU TIRESIZE: P205/55R16)

EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON ONE OCCASION EACH. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

THIS IS SIMILAR TO PRIOR COMPLAINTS: 528520, 533799,848379,869541. WHEN DRIVING THRU A PUDDLE/IN RAIN, AT TIMES, ALL DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH AND POWER IS LOST INCLUDING TO THE STEERING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR PUMP SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT NO. 728130. I UNDERSTAND THAT WATER CAN GET INTO THE PUMP CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. ARE BOTH THESE PROBLEMS RELATED TO LIMITED "SPLASH GUARD" PROTECTION UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT?

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THIS IS A RECALL ITEM UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V235000. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE DATE RANGE ON THE RECALL NOTICE AS VERIFIED BY VOLVO'S "CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN". HOWEVER, WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE RECALLED ITEM THE VOLVO DEALER (355 - ROCKVILLE, MD) REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ITEM WITHOUT COST. THE VOLVO DEAL STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PRESENT ANYTHING TO ADEQUATELY DEMONSTATE THAT FACT. IN SPITE OF (1) THE FAILED ITEM WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL, (2) THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE RECALL TIMEFRAME; THE OWNER WAS FORCED TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

LEFT HUB-BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT 44,490 MILES AND THEN HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 55,000. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND WHEN SHE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH SMOKE VERY QUICKLY, THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED FROM EUROPE THEREFORE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER CAME AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT WITH THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED LITTLE DAMAGE BECAUSE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS AVAILABLE AND THINKS THEY SHOULD BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN U.S. VEHICLES ALSO. NLM

HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE; FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM RESTAURANT BY WHICH VEHICLE WAS STOPPED; FIRE DAMAGED THE SEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, STEERING COLUMN, FRONT DASH AND STEERING WHEEL. CARPETING OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ARM REST, ETC MAY HAVE OCCURED. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO VOLVO AND THEY ARE SENDING OUT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE CAR ON 10/25/00.

DRIVER SEATBACK FRAME BROKE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGN. SEAT DID NOT ENTIRELY COLLAPSE, BUT SEAT DOES WOBBLE NOW AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISES. DEALER ADVISED $650 PARTS AND LABOR TO CORRECT PROBLEM. VOLVO ADVISES THEY WILL NOT ASSIST SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS REPAIR IS BEING PAID FOR BY MY RYAN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE SEATBEAT COULD HAVE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

BOTH VEHICLES ARE THE SAME MODELS AND YEARS, BUT ONE VEHICLE IS A SEDAN, AND THE OTHER IS WAGON, # [XXX], WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE PUDDLES WATER ENTERED POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. IT USUALLY LASTED UP TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK DRIVING IN RAIN OR LARGE PUDDLES CAUSE THE BELT TO SLIP ON THE PULLEYS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COMING ON. *YH INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AIR PUMP WAS INITIALLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 02/18/1999 (MILEAGE 47462) AND FAILED AGAIN 14 MOS. LATTER (THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY). THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS $400. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS INITIALLY REPLACED 07/13/1998 (MILEAGE 33659) AND HAS FAILED JUST THIS WEEK (08/15). DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIR COST, BUT BELIEVE IT WILL BE $300-400. THESE 2 FAILURES DON'T SPEAK VERY WELL FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS USED BY VOLVO.

WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE IT DID A 360* TURN, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. ENGINE WAS RACING, DRIVER TURNED IGNITION OFF TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK *ML

WHILE IN DRIVEWAY IN PARK, PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND IT STARTED SPINNING MADLY IN REVERSE, TURNING IN CIRCLES, AND ENGINE WAS RACING REALLY HIGH. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A DITCH. *AK

THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE REAR SEAT BELTS,THE LOCKING CLIPS/BUCKLES ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT IT IS EASY FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGER TO DISCONNECT THE BELT THAT HOLDS THE INFANT SEAT.*ET

REAR SEAT BELT, WHICH SECURES THE INFANT SEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT, BECOMES INADVERTENTLY DISCONNECTED , WHEN THE PASSENGER SITTING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE INFANT SEAT, ATTEMPTS TO FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELT. *AK

IN RAINY CONDITIONS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL, AND RESULTING IN TWO CRASHES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN HARD RAIN CONSUMER SAW DASH LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND THE STEERING CONTROL FAILED AND CAR CUT OFF.AFTER ABOUT THRITY SECONDS THE CAR RESTARTED. *AK

THERE ARE BUBBLES WITHIN THE FRONT TIRES, AND SOMETIMES WITHIN THE REARS TIRE.CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES REPAIRED 11 TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

BATTERY IS DEAD. YH

VOLVO PUT THE WRONG TIRES ON VEHICLE. THEY ARE HIGH PERFORMANCE RACE TIRES INSTEAD OF ROAD TIRES. WHENEVER HITTING A BUMP, A BUBBLE FORMS IN THE TIRES. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE TIRES 5 TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE BATTERY FAILED, ON TWO OCCASIONS. *YC

BATTERY DIED. YH

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED. YH

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

DURING THE RAIN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP.