117 of the 732 complaints filed about the Volvo 850 are about the braking system — 16% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
117
Complaints
16%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 1996 VOLVO 850 TURBO STATION WAGON. IT HAS ONLY 41,000 MILES BUT THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CAR. VOLVO CLAIMS IT IS ONE OF THE SAFEST CAR ON THE ROAD AND QUITE RELIABLE. I DISAGREE. PLS. ASK VOLVO TO ISSUE A RECALL AS THIS IS ANNOYING AND COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10269136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILED. LOOKS LIKE MAJOR DEALER REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH AND NO LONGER TREATED AS AN ACCESSORY ITEM. FOR THESE DEVICES TO BE CONSIDERED AN "ACCESSORY" THEY SHOULD THEN BE MADE AS USER REPLACEABLE WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. THEN AGAIN, IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE EVERY SUNDAY-MECHANIC REPLACING SUCH A CRITICAL ITEM? I HAVE HAD AN ABS WARNING LIGHT FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW. DIAGNOSTICS SAY ITS THE ABS ELECTRONICS. I DO NOT HAVE THE BUDGET OR EXPERIENCE TO REPLACE IT. SEVERAL WEBSITES POINT TO FAILING OR DEFECTIVE CAPACITORS ON THE ELECTRONIC MODULE ITSELF.
NHTSA complaint #10253657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1996 VOLVO 850 - ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENT - NOT SURE IF ABS IS WORKING OR NOT - TOLD BY VOLVO REPAIR SPECIALISTS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE 96 & 97 MODELS - ALSO TOLD THAT ABS COMPUTER HAS TENDENCY TO BURN OUT RELATIVELY QUICKLY ON THIS MODEL & YEAR - TOLD TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE IT - AGAIN - HAD IT REPLACED LESS THAN 4 YEARS AGO -
NHTSA complaint #10245467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1996 VOLVO 850 ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENT NOT SURE IF ABS IS WORKING OR NOT COMES AND GOES.
NHTSA complaint #10242395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLVO 850 WAGON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION FOR TIRE REPAIR AND THE FOLLOWING FAILURES WERE DISCOVERED: BOTH REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS WERE SEIZED AND COMPLETELY INOPERABLE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ALSO INOPERABLE, AND BOTH FRONT INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $1,230. THE VOLVO DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FOLLOWING FAILURES: BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND THE DRIVER SIDE TIE RODS FAILED, AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED, INCLUDING THE ROTOR AND CALIPERS, AND THERE WAS AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE NEEDS COMPLETE EMISSION REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JUNE 21, 2008 AND PASSED INSPECTION ON JUNE 25, 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,700.
NHTSA complaint #10234149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HEAT GENERATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSES ABS CONTROL MODULE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE TO FAIL IN MY '96 VOLVO 850R. AS OF TODAY, THERE'S 3 MODULES ALREADY REPLACED (EACH COSTING $800). THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CONTROL MODULE FAILS BECAUSE IT'S NOT DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO WITHSTAND TYPICAL ENGINE HEAT. THE CHATROOM OF VOLVO OWNERS (WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM) IS FILLED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM VARIOUS MODEL YEARS. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE THE FAILURE CAUSES INTERMITTENT BRAKING CAPABILITY AND HAZARDOUS DURING WINTER/SNOWY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10198193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL BUT HE WAS UNSURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED CHANGING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS CHANGED AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION, HOWEVER THE LEAK CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE ABS. THE MODULE WAS CHANGED, THE LEAK STOPPED AND THE BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY. HE THEN RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V368000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM. RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BUT THERE WAS STILL A SMELL OF FUEL. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CAME ON. UPON INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP THE COMPUTER FOUND THE AIR MASS FLOW METER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE ROUGHER AND NOT RUN SMOOTHLY. THE AIR MASS FLOW METER HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005.
NHTSA complaint #10141944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
. I HAVE SPENT $2200 IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WHILE HERB GORDON TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, CLEANED AND RESEALED THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND NOW AS A LAST RESORT ARE REPLACING THE INTERNAL ABS SYSTEM, WHICH FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS CAME LOOSE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN, AIR SENSORS AND OXYGEN SENSORS SEEM TO NEED REPLACING AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10138511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE ON 96 VOLVO 850 WITH JUST OVER 60,000 MILES ON IT. ABS LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO FAILURE IN UNIT. FAILURE IS A RESULT OF CRACKS THAT DEVELOP IN CIRCUIT BOARD. ABS FAILS & IS NO LONGER OPERABLE LEADING TO HAZARDOUS BRAKING CONDITION. THIS IS A COMMON & WELL KNOWN ISSUE ON 850 VOLVO'S. INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS AND VOLVO REPAIR SPECIALISTS AND MEMBERS OF VOLVO COMMUNITY ALL KNOW THAT ABS LIGHT COMING ON MEANS 90% CHANCE TOTAL FAILURE OF UNIT IS INVOLVED. REPAIR COST IS PROHIBITIVE. REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE UNIT IS $650 TO $900.00.
NHTSA complaint #10126178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON 1987 VOLVO 850
NHTSA complaint #10125178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10111640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ROLL INTO THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER JUMP INTO THE TRUNK WHILE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN THE STREET UNTIL IT RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN INCLINE.
NHTSA complaint #10096726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS TRACTION CONTROLLER FAILURE ON MY 1997 VOLOV 850 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT COSTING APPROX. $750. THE REPAIR SHOP I USE WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON VOLVOS AND HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE ON AVERAGE ONE SUCH FAILURE AND CUSTOMER REPAIR EACH WEEK. THE REPAIR SHOP IS HUBBARD WOODS MOTORS, 985 GREENBAY ROAD, WINNETKA, IL 60093, PHONE 847-446-0711, OWNER, ROBERT L. BERGER.
NHTSA complaint #10093911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON REPEATEDLY. AFTER NUMEROUS RESETS BY MY VOLVO REPAIR SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE HAD FAILED. THE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $642.93. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE DOING AN AVERAGE OF ONE OR TWO SUCH REPLACEMENTS ON THIS MODEL PER WEEK AND THAT THEY BELIEVED THIS TO BE A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE FOR THIS MODEL IN GENERAL. THE REPAIR SHOP WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON VOLVOS, HUBBARD WOODS MOTORS, 985 GREENBAY ROAD, WINNETKA, IL, 60093; PHONE 8470446-0711; OWNER, ROBERT L. BERGER.
NHTSA complaint #10093912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE A 1997 VOLVO 850R THAT IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS/TRACS SYSTEM - THE LIGHTS CAME ON FOR THE ABS AND THE TRACS SYSTEM. IN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THE 850 VOLVO IS KNOWN FOR FAILURES TO ITS ABS MODULE AND THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM IN GENERAL. THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON THIS COMMON PROBLEM LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED ITEM. APPARENTLY VOLVO NOW OFFERS A NEW AND IMPROVED ABS CONTROL MODULE (THAT THEY CHARGE DEARLY FOR) BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND REPLACEMENTS OF THE OLD UNITS. VOLVO SHOULD BEAR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THESE UNITS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSES INTERMITTENT PULSATION IN THE BRAKES. THE SHEAR NUMBER OF THESE INSTANCES LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10091051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ABS PUMP MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10091997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NAR 05/21/2003. *MR DEFECTIVE ANTILOCK BRAKE PUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10021565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10082600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND REMAINED ON. FOLLOWING THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULAR UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10081461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1996 VOLVO 850'S ARE PLAGUED WITH REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURES WHICH CAUSE OIL TO LEAK ONTO CLUTCHES AS WELL AS ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRES. 1996 VOLVO 850'S ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURES IN THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO OPERATE AT TIMES. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER MODULE. VOLVO 850'S ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH POOR DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DESIGNS THAT RESULT IN A LARGE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD NOT BEING SWEPT BY THE WIPER, WASHER NOZZLES RETURN VALVES ALSO FAIL FREQUENTLY, PREVENTING WASHER FLUID FROM RECAHING THE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10069819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.