1993 VOLVO 850 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 ...
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 T...
Mileage: 200
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 T...
Mileage: 200
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
Mileage: 50,000
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 MA...
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
Mileage: 121,000
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
Mileage: 150,000
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
Mileage: 150,000
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 T...
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
CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHILED BLADES WERE REPLACED, THE GASOLINE TANK WAS LEAKING, AND THE HOOD LATCHES WERE ADJUSTED.*JB
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CYCLES OFF AND ON TOO FREQUENTLY, DEALER STATED SYSTEM WAS LOW ON FREON CHARGE AND INSPECTED FOR LEAKS, HOWEVER COULD NOT FIND ANY. *SLC
REPLACED 7 TIRES. TOO MANY FOR LOW MILES. VOLVO FRONT END CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR?*AK (TIRESIZE: 195/60VR15)
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 ...
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. ...
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
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
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
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL RELATED FAILURES (WIRING, POWER DOOR LOCKS, HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND ELECTRONIC IGNITION). *MJS
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED FAILURES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, WHICH DRAGS AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR. *MJS
VEHICLE HAS HAD EXTENSIVE ENGINE RELATED WORK. *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 FAIL...
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 FAIL...
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
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...
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...
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
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.
DRIVER'S SEAT MECHANISM FAILED.
DOOR HINGES LOOSENED.
AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. OWNER SUSPECTS THE "O" RING TO BE THE FAILED PART.
VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STEER IN ANY DIRECTION. WILL NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT W/O EFFORT. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED THE STEERING RACK & PINION WAS IN BAD SHAPE & NEEDED REPLACING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WAS THE 3RD ONE PUT ON VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
HORN FAILURE, ALSO AIR BAG SPLIT/REPLACED. *AK
HORN FAILURE, ALSO AIR BAG SPLIT/REPLACED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY.
SHOCKS ON BOTH SIDES OF TRUNK NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY ALLOWING TRUNK TO CLOSE WITH GREAT FORCE.
AIR BAG WAS SUPPOSEDLY FOUND SPLIT WHEN HORN, STEERING COLUMN, AND STEERING WHEEL WAS BEING REPLACED. VOLVO MAY BE USING POOR QUALITY COMPONENTS IN VEHICLES.
UNDERBODY WELD BROKE LOOSE, ALLOWING STRUT TOWER TO MOVE SEVERAL INCHES FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
THROTTLE STICKING. *AK
THERE IS FUEL LEAK FROM THE FUEL LINE .*AK CONSUMER STATES MECHANIC INSTALLED A SMALL HOSE CLAMP.*JB
BELT TENSIONER FAILED.
HUB BEARINGS FAILED.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DH
SRS SYSTEM: THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO CUT ON. PLEASE DESCRBE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SD
THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
PURCHASE CAR NEW WHEN DRIVING CAR LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 THERE IS A NOISE. TT
DURING NORMAL BRAKE APPLICATION PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO RESPONSE FROM THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. TT
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON SNOWY ROAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE/LOSE CONTROL. *AK
IGNITION KEY CAN START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. TT
STEERING WHEEL JAMS WHEN MAKING TURNS OCCASIONALLY. *DH
HAD A REAREND COLLISION THAT PUSHED VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER CAR, DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
HAD A REAREND COLLISION THAT PUSHED VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER CAR, PASSENGERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 20 MPH, DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES AND BURNS TO HEAD AND ARMS. TT
FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 20 MPH, PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES AND BURNS TO HEAD AND ARMS. *AK