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U.S. public vehicle records

Volvo 850 electrical problems

22 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.

Key facts

413 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1993 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 131 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Electrical and battery issues evidence

22 of 413 complaints match this topic (5.3%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.

Owner report 10100022 · 2004-11-16 (November 16, 2004)

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!!…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100022 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10229332 · 2008-05-30 (May 30, 2008)

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 CURREN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10229332 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 737887 · 2000-12-16 (December 16, 2000)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737887 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974835 · 1995-11-08 (November 8, 1995)

FRONT PASSENGER REPLACEMENTS AND ORIGINAL RIM CRACKED THREE TIMES WITHIN THIRTY DAYS, RESULTING IN FLAT TIRES, REPLACE RIMS THREE TIMES. TT FIRST OCCASION, HIT A POT HOLE AND TIRE BUSTED AND WHEEL CRACKED, SECOND OCCASTION, HIT A BUMP AND TIRE WENT FLAT AND WHEEL CRACKED, ON THIRD OCCASION, HIT A HOLE AND WHEEL CRACKED AGAIN, CONSUMER STATES CRAKED WHEELS ONLY OCCUR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. RIGHT REAR SEAT BACK NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. WEATHER STIP DEFECTIVE, KEPT FALLING OFF. JACK BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. ENGINE T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974835 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010636 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)

I AM THE OWNER AND DRIVER OF A 1996 VOLVO 850. ON SUNDAY MARCH 16TH 2003, THE DRIVER AND MYSELF WERE STOPPED IN A DRIVE THROUGH RESTAURANT WHEN MY DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE SEATS, THEN WE TURNED AROUND TO LOOK WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM WE NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE SEAT INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA. WE YELLED FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT THE DRIVER USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, WHILE PUTTING IT OUT HE SUSTAINED INJURY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THEY HAD ADVISED ME NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010636 at NHTSA ↗