21 of the
235 complaints about the 1996 Volvo 850 are about the
electrical system — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
73,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO 850. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING OVER DIFFERENT DEVIATIONS ON THE ROAD, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD FISH TAIL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE A JUMP START IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TRIED CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER VIA WEB MAIL BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,805 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,805. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK LID LATCH WAS FAULTY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. UPDATED 04/29/11
NHTSA complaint #10376732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,500 milesSaint Louis, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, ONCE THE CONSUMER TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START. THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB CAME AND JUMPED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND IT WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEM OF STARTING THE VEHICLE RECURRED. AUTOMOBLE CLUB CAME AGAIN, AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10117023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,000 milesGurnee, ILFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10073954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jamaica Plain, MAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CONSUMER NOTICED AN ODD SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND PUT FIRE OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10040474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEL AIR, MDFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ENTIRE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED BEFORE THE FUSEABLE LINK OPENED THE CIRCUIT. THIS CLEARLY IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN. IN FACT, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IF MY WIFE HAD NOT TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN SHE DID, DUE TO THE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE FAN, THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MOST LIKELY THE RESULTING FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR AS THE MELTED WIRING HARNESS IS DIRECTLY UNDER AND AROUND THE ENGINES FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE, AND WAS APPALLED BY HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING WAS FUSED TOGETHER. IF THE SAFETY DESIGN (FUSEABLE LINK) OF THE FAN CIRCUIT HAD WORKED PROPERLY THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT I SAW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY WIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN PERSONAL DANGER.I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO VOLVO AMERICA AND THEY CONTEND THAT A LOOSE FAN MOUNT CAUSED THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS AT A LOSE TO EXPLAIN THIS POSITION TO ME AS THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS RELEVENT TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED AS THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10030704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEL AIR, MDFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE ENTIRE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED BEFORE THE FUSEABLE LINK OPENED THE CIRCUIT. THIS CLEARLY IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN. IN FACT, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IF MY WIFE HAD NOT TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN SHE DID, DUE TO THE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE FAN, THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MOST LIKELY THE RESULTING FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR AS THE MELTED WIRING HARNESS IS DIRECTLY UNDER AND AROUND THE ENGINES FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE, AND WAS APPALLED BY HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING WAS FUSED TOGETHER. IF THE SAFETY DESIGN (FUSEABLE LINK) OF THE FAN CIRCUIT HAD WORKED PROPERLY THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT I SAW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY WIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN PERSONAL DANGER.I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO VOLVO AMERICA AND THEY CONTEND THAT A LOOSE FAN MOUNT CAUSED THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS AT A LOSE TO EXPLAIN THIS POSITION TO ME AS THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS RELEVENT TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED AS THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10030704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEL AIR, MDFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE ENTIRE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED AND DESTROYED BEFORE THE FUSEABLE LINK OPENED THE CIRCUIT. THIS CLEARLY IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ELECTRICAL DESIGN. IN FACT, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IF MY WIFE HAD NOT TURNED THE CAR OFF WHEN SHE DID, DUE TO THE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE FAN, THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MOST LIKELY THE RESULTING FIRE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CAR AS THE MELTED WIRING HARNESS IS DIRECTLY UNDER AND AROUND THE ENGINES FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. PERSONALLY INSPECTED THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE, AND WAS APPALLED BY HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING WAS FUSED TOGETHER. IF THE SAFETY DESIGN (FUSEABLE LINK) OF THE FAN CIRCUIT HAD WORKED PROPERLY THE ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT I SAW AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY WIFE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IN PERSONAL DANGER.I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO VOLVO AMERICA AND THEY CONTEND THAT A LOOSE FAN MOUNT CAUSED THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS AT A LOSE TO EXPLAIN THIS POSITION TO ME AS THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS RELEVENT TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED AS THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10030704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bedford Hills, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 45MPH SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. VEHICLE STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE, AND CONSUMER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER DASH. INTERIOR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES BY TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED.
NHTSA complaint #8006804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Delaware, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
LEFT FRONT CALIPER BROKE IN JANUARY 1999, ROGHT FRONT CALIPER BROKE AT THIS TIME. PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 3 MONTHS TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK CONSUMER HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WERE REPLACED, DASH BULB LIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS REPLACED. HEADLIGHT WIPER AND WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES REPLACED. CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND LATER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, EVAPORATOR, RECEIVER, AND DRYER. BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER HAD A RECALL ON THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL RELAY AND WHEN RETURNING TO VEHICLE THAT WAS SHUT OFF THE PHONE AND RADIO WERE ON. COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED 4 TIMES, FINALLY DEALER REPLACED THE COOLANT FILLER CAP, ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS ILLUMINATED, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PNP SWITCH, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR PUMP, AND CHECK VALVE, THE AIR PUMP AND CHECK VALVE WERE REPLACED TWICE, THE TIMING BELT HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. ABS SENSOR CABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #880868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Delaware, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
LEFT FRONT CALIPER BROKE IN JANUARY 1999, ROGHT FRONT CALIPER BROKE AT THIS TIME. PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 3 MONTHS TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK CONSUMER HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WERE REPLACED, DASH BULB LIGHTS AND OTHER BULBS REPLACED. HEADLIGHT WIPER AND WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES REPLACED. CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND LATER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, EVAPORATOR, RECEIVER, AND DRYER. BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER HAD A RECALL ON THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL RELAY AND WHEN RETURNING TO VEHICLE THAT WAS SHUT OFF THE PHONE AND RADIO WERE ON. COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED 4 TIMES, FINALLY DEALER REPLACED THE COOLANT FILLER CAP, ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS ILLUMINATED, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PNP SWITCH, OXYGEN SENSOR, AIR PUMP, AND CHECK VALVE, THE AIR PUMP AND CHECK VALVE WERE REPLACED TWICE, THE TIMING BELT HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. ABS SENSOR CABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #880868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #735077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #735022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #735024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Revere, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WILL NOT START, PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ALMOST ANY TIME. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CLAIM THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WROTE TO VOLVO ONE MONTH AGO AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #725685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DEFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR AND AROUND THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE CONSUMER LOST ALL HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT WIRING MELTED INSIDE THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING SHORT CIRCUIT.
NHTSA complaint #854308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ypsilanti, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE IS PARKED; HEADLIGHTS WILL BLINK ON AND OFF, MOTOR WON'T TURN OVER AND STEERING WHEEL IS SMOKING WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #845378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
State College, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE ABS BRAKES TO OPERATE RANDOMLY, AND ALSO SEAT BELT INDICATOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #834889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redondo Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendora, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DRIVING AT SPEED 65MPH, VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, IN FOR REPAIR , WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #804346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.