42 of the
732 complaints filed about the Volvo 850
are about the airbag system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
THE CONSOLE AND STEERING WHEEL WERE WET FROM RAIN. THE SRS DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 5 MILES AFTER THAT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE BAG WAS THE ORIGINAL BAG. THE SRS LIGHT HAD GONE ON ONCE 20 MONTHS BEFORE WHEN THE CONSOLE GOT WET. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A TEST FOR ABOUT $115 EACH ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND SAID THE CAUSE OF THE SRS LIGHT COMING ON WAS INDETERMINATE. TWENTY MONTHS AGO A TOP, LONGTIME VOLVO DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME THAT AIR BAGS NEVER GO OFF WITHOUT AN IMPACT. HE SAID THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SINGLE OCCASION OF THAT EVER HAPPENING. I SHOULD HAVE GOOGLED THE TOPIC. I WOULD HAVE SEEN RIGHT AWAY THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. TWO BONES IN MY FOREARM WERE BROKEN AND HEAVY BRUISES THAT ARE STILL VISIBLE 5 WEEKS LATER WERE LEFT ON MY STOMACH AND THIGHS. CORPORATE OFFICES AND THE DEALERSHIP SAY THE BAG WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; A REPLACEMENT STEERING WHEEL TO INSTALL A NEW BAG IS NOT AVAILABLE; AND THAT THEY WILL NOT DISCONNECT THE PASSENGER BAG, THOUGH I CONSIDER IT A TIME BOMB. BEFORE WRITING AN EMAIL ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE BLAME ON ME, ERICA AT "THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF VOLVO" LEFT AN APPARENTLY INANE VOICE MAIL THAT I HAVE SAVED FOR NOW SAYING "THIS IS NOT EXACTLY A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. WE DO KNOW WHY THE BAG DEPLOYED IN YOUR VEHICLE." I EMAILED BACK THAT HER CLAIM THAT "WE" KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE BAG TO DEPLOY "STRUCK ME AS ODD BECAUSE NO ONE AT THE VOLVO [DEALERSHIP] THIS PAST WEEK SAID THAT THEY KNEW." EVEN AFTER RUNNING A CHECK ON THE SRS SYSTEM, AND CHARGING ME $115 TO DO SO, THEY STILL SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW. IN FACT A FEW WEEKS AGO TWO LONG TIME SERVICE MANAGERS WERE SAYING MY EXPERIENCE WAS UNPRECEDENTED OR IMPOSSIBLE. I SUGGESTED IN ANOTHER EMAIL TO ERICA THAT THE CORPORATION HAD A MORAL OBLIGATION TO INFORM THEIR SERVICE MANAGERS OF DOCUMENTED CASES OF SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10471432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1994 VOLVO 850 SEDAN. I WAS PARKED ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN PORTLAND ST. AND GOT IN MY CAR, TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IT WAS SO LOUD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT. (AS DID PASSERSBY) MY CAR FILLED WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SMOKE (DUE TO GUNPOWDER SMELL) AND GOT OUT QUICKLY. I WAS VERY DISTRAUGHT AND IN SHOCK...MY ARMS AND CHEST HAD BURNS AND CUTS AND BRUISES INSTANTLY. I WENT TO THE ER..THANKFULLY NOTHING BROKEN BUT NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY (FARMER'S) IS SAYING IT'S NOT COVERED SINCE IT IS "SO RARE" AND THEY FEEL "DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT". I THEN CONTACTED VOLVO HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT SINCE THE CAR IS 14 YRS. OLD THERE COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE A "FACTORY DEFECT". AT THIS POINT I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS. I FEEL LIKE I AM SUCH AN INNOCENT VICTIM IN ALL THIS. ALL I DID WAS TRY TO START MY CAR...........
NHTSA complaint #10238103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10166716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, 7:30 A.M., CLEAR SUNNY COLD DAY. TRAVELING 55 MPH ON I 190 EXTENSION NEAR O'HARE AIRPORT IN CHGO. THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON MY DASHBOARD (WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE) AND AN INSTANT LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. IT RIPPED APART THE DASHBOARD, AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY ACROSS. I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND QUICKLY GOT OUT. THE FUMES AND DUST FROM THE AIRBAG WERE TERRIBLE. ALTHOUGH DRIVE-ABLE, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE VOLVO OF LISLE, IL DEALER SINCE IT SEEMED TO ME TO BE AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. NO CRASH, NO ACCIDENT, NO COLLISION, AND A SPLIT SECOND WARNING.*AK THE DEALER REPS HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS. THE DEALER INITIALLY SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT WOULDN'T BEGIN ANY REPAIR UNLESS I/MY INSURER PAID THE BILL. I WAS IN TOUCH WITH VOLVO OF N.A. WITHIN 24 HOURS. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND OUT AN ENGINEER TO INVESTIGATE. TO DATE, I'VE NOT GOTTEN A REPORT OR AN ANSWER ON THE STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION, MY CAR SITS UNREPAIRED AT THE DEALER, AND I'M ON WEEK 3 WITH A RENTAL CAR THAT I FEEL THEY NEED TO PAY FOR AS WELL. I COULD REALLY USE AN ADVOCATE HERE---I'M GETTING A RUN-AROUND.
NHTSA complaint #10104279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!! VOLVO NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE ASAP BEFORE A LAWSUIT ARISES!!
NHTSA complaint #10100022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #8023575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH CONSUMER WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND IT FLIPPED A FEW TIMES. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8019069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING INVOLVED IN A SIDE SWIPED COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR BODY INJURIES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8015725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE INSPECTORS FOR VOLVO STATED THERE WAS LIQUID IN THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THEREFORE THEY WERE NOT LIABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #8012126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING DIRECT IMPACT TO THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE DRIVERS DOOR-SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATED THAT, THIS WAS THE SIDE AIR BAG, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY UPWARD BETWEEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE DRIVERS SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #785860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN COLLISION WHERE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED, AND STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE RUNNING STOP SIGN (IMPACT SPEED UNKNOWN). IMPACT WAS ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER AND DOOR
NHTSA complaint #758221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING DIRECT IMPACT TO THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE DRIVERS DOOR-SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATED THAT, THIS WAS THE SIDE AIR BAG, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY UPWARD BETWEEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE DRIVERS SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #785860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!!!
NHTSA complaint #737887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT IMPACT SPEED OF 50 MPH, IMPACT LOCATION FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS INJURED. VOLVO SAYS THAT IMPACT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ACTIVATE AIR BAGS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #861806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AT 20MPH, AND BOTH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALLOWING A CHEMICAL TO BE RELEASED AND BURN THE DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #856923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COVER THAT GOES OVER THE AIR BAG IS STARTING TO CURL UP AS IF IT IS GOING TO POP OFF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT,THE AIR BAG WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #851052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE WITNESSED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON MANY OTHER 850S. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD ALLOW DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAG, FROM SUNLIGHT AND DEBRIS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS AND REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #708293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.