1995 Volvo 850: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
73 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
114,379 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 73 complaints (5.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 11.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 13 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 13; 1996: 7; 2000: 15; 2001: 6; 2002: 9; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 7; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008716 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT FROM ITS POSITION.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014063 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
VOLVO 850 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC MODULATOR PUMP DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT FLUID LEAK (3-6 OZ PER DAY, OR GREATER). THIS PART IS NON-REPAIRABLE AND MUST BE REPLACED AT GREAT COST (QUOTED $1900). AS A KEY BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENT, FAILURE OF THIS PART MAY CAUSE (1) SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION DUE TO AIR & MOISTURE INTRUSION INTO THE BRAKE LINES, (2) NON-FUNCTIONING BRAKES WHEN GREATER AMOUNTS OF FLUID ARE SUDDENLY LOST, AND/OR (3) FIRE DANGER, WHEN DRIPPING BRAKE FLUID CONTACTS NEARBY EXHAUST MANIFOLD COMPONENTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 81,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038932 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
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...
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057945 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
CONSUMER'S HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE SEATS FABRIC CONTAINED THE FIRE. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063161 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069615 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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 PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079731 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
CONSUMER SAW/SMELLED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083015 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE AND FILLED THE TANK FULL UNTIL AUTO PUMP KICKED OFF, DROVE LESS THAN 1 MILE HOME AND PARKED IN THE GARGE. THE NEXT MORNING, GARAGE FILLED WITH GAS FUME ODOR, NO VISIBLE LEAK, RESEARCHED HAYNED REPAIR MANUAL, FOUND ACCESS COVER TO FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMP INSIDE VEHICLE, REMOVED COVERS, FOUND FUEL LEAK AT FUEL PUMP COVER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 95,204 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083015 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V368000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
Reported: 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
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 CONDUCTED AS A SAFETY RECALL IN THE HOT WEATHER STATES OF ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, AND UTAH, AND AS A SERVICE RECALL IN THE OTHER 33 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V050000 · Equipment:Mechanical:Integrated Jack/Leveler/Stabilizer | Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Reported: 1995-03-10 (March 10, 1995)
SOME OF THE JACKS SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY LOAD CAPACITY.
Consequence: A RAISED VEHICLE CAN FALL OFF THE JACK INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE SUSPECT JACKS WITH A JACK MEETING THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE CARS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗