15 of the 235 complaints about the 1996 Volvo 850 are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 37,000 miles.
15
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
EXHAUST: CATALYTIC CONVERTEWR FAILED/PLUGGED UP. TRANSMISSION: SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON ON SHIFTER LOCKED UP.
NHTSA complaint #10068954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK ( THE KEY WILL NOT GOT OUT THE IGNITION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8021099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE ABS/TRACS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THIS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY HAS BEEN ON FOR MANY MONTHS. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THE ABS/TRACS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A REPAIR BILL OF $750.00. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VOLVOS AND I BELIEVE THAT THE VOLVO CORP. SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #766977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE TRAVELING 15-20MPH FRONT AXLE BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TP6001201SECTION AND 79606470-77,FRONT END STEERING 850-992, HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT PROBLEM. BUT, REFUSED TO REMEDY PROBLEM AT NO COST. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #891569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VOLVO'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION DOES NOT IN ANYWAY PROVIDE FOR SAFETY, THERE IS NO WAY OF PREVENTING THE CAR FROM COMING OUT OF GEAR WHEN NOT PLACED ON A STEEP INCLINE AS VOLVO HAS POINTED OUT. THE REAR SIDE MIRRORS PROJECT OUT FAR ENOUGH TO TRAP AN INDIVIDUAL PROHIBITING THEM FROM FREEING THEMSELVES, RESULTING IN DEATH. SIDE MIRRORS ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WILL LOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE THE MIRROR BREAKS FREE. I KNOW, MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR IN THIS WAY.
NHTSA complaint #718761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NEUTRAL AND GEARS WAS MINIMAL, CAR ROLLED- MIRROR TRAPPED MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER - SHE WAS KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #717365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION VEHICLE CAME OUT OFF PARK, ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND HIT A TREE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #847204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK POSITION, ROLLED DOWN INCLINE, & HIT A TREE. VOLVO ADMITS SHIFT INTERLOCK IS DAMAGED, BUT CLAIMS DAMAGE DUE TO MISUSE. MY INSURANCE AGENT INDICTED VOLVO CLAIMS PART WAS REPLACED BY PRIOR OWNER DUE TO A RECALL. REPLACEMENT PART IS LIKELY TO ALSO BE DEFECTIVE. IF MY CHILDREN HAD BEEN PLAYING IN YARD, THE CAR WOULD HAVE RUN OVER THEM. HOWEVER, VOLVO FEELS THE PROBLEM IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. A MOVIE WAS TAKEN WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE TREE SHOWING THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD BE MOVED WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, OR GEAR SHIFTER RELEASE BUTTON DEPRESSED. NHTSA INTERNET SITE SHOWS A COMPLAINT WITH SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER ALSO INCIDENT OCCURED IN REI PARKING LOT( A RETAILER IN ATLANTA)ON AUGUST 24, 1999. UNFORTUNATELY, REI DID NOT GET CUSTOMER'S NAME, BUT IS ATTEMPTING TO GET NAME. PLEASE CONTACT ME TO LET ME KNOW IF THIS COMPLAINT WILL BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU, SUSAN BERRA
NHTSA complaint #710738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK, ROLLED DOWN A HILL & HIT A TREE. VOLVO ADMITS SHIFT INTERLOCK DAMAGED, BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER THE PART DEFECTIVE. MOVIE TAKEN THAT SHOWS GEAR SHIFTER MOVES WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, OR GEAR SHIFT BUTTON DEPRESSED. TWO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR CAR. LIKELY TO BE MANY MORE.
NHTSA complaint #710515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT OVER THE PHONE ON AUGUST 4. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A WRITTEN REPORT. PLEASE CALL ME AT WORK TO LET ME KNOW THE STATUS OF MY REPORT. I ALSO HAVE SOME NEW INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #710392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK DUE TO COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #604209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK WITHOUT SHIFT LOCK. TSB ISSUED ON PART, AND PART WAS REDESIGNED. HOWEVER PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING.
NHTSA complaint #703348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
UPON OPERATING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITION THE VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DEACCELERATE, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #809421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTO-TRAN: WHILE PARKED, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK, ROLLED DOWN INCLINE, HIT A HOUSE. NOTE: LEASED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #987094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.