FaultScore

Volvo 850 transmission problems

73 of the 732 complaints filed about the Volvo 850 are about the transmission — 10% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1993.

73

Complaints

10%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

1993 850 28 38.4%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

1994 850 7 9.6%

Median failure at 130,000 miles

1995 850 16 21.9%
1996 850 15 20.5%

Median failure at 37,000 miles

1997 850 6 8.2%

Median failure at 127,700 miles

1999 850 1 1.4%

What owners said

1997 Volvo 850 at 127,700 miles Boston, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

1994 Volvo 850 at 130,000 miles Weybridge, VT

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DT: WHILE HE WAS IN A PARKING LOT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF. THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE FRONT ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF, AND THE AXLE BROKE. DEALER SAID HE SAW THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. ANOTHER DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, AND GAVE HIM THEIR PHONE NUMBER. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10130550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Volvo 850 at 37,000 miles Mclean, VA

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.

1993 Volvo 850 at 150,000 miles Warner Robins, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FAILED TRANSMISSION AFTER 45,000 MILES. EXTENDED WARRANTY REPLACED IT. FAILED CONTROL SWITCH FOR AIR CONDITIONING A/C AND EVAPORATOR UNIT AT 135,000.

NHTSA complaint #10037093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Volvo 850 Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHTS . *SCC

NHTSA complaint #567844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Volvo 850 Woodstock, GA

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.

1993 Volvo 850 Bloomsburg, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #767578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Volvo 850 Lawrence, KS

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.

1993 Volvo 850 Santa Cruz, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REPLACED 7 TIRES. TOO MANY FOR LOW MILES. VOLVO FRONT END CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR?*AK (TIRESIZE: 195/60VR15)

NHTSA complaint #759415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Volvo 850 West Boylston, MA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED IN TO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL GO IN THAT DIRECTION WITHOUT CONSUMER PUSHING CLUTCH AND GAS IN, VEHICLE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME, CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING ASSIST. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE, AND DRIVER DOOR AND FENDER WERE DAMAGED, THE DEALER STATED THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO INSTALL A SAFETY SWITCH ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #8001674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Volvo 850 SAN Francisco, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

GEAR POSITION SENSOR,S1 & S2 SOLENOIDS: VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT FOR SOME TIME AND SHOULD HAVE DECLARED A RECALL.( VOLVO EVEN LOST A SMALL CLAIMS SUIT IN CALIFORNIA OVER THIS FAILURE) WHILE VOLVO PAID $900 OF THE $1300 REPAIR BILL TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE WHOLE BILL. RE: HORN FAILURE, THE VOLVO MECHANICS SAID VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALSO, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. MY CAR HAS NOT YET REACHED 50,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD TO SPEND ABOUT $1,400 DOLLARS TO REPAIR A SUNROOF, REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FIX THE SOLENOIDS AND GEAR POSITION SENSORS. I BELIEVE VOLVO SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE EXPENDITURES. I HAVE BEEN A VOLVO OWNER SINCE 1972, AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLVO AGAIN. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON A VOLVO, I COULD HAVE HAD A RELIABLE CAR LIKE A SMALL LEXUS!

NHTSA complaint #751419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Volvo 850 Germantown, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ONCE THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP THE VEHICLE ACTS AS THOUGHT IT IS IN NEUTRAL. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Volvo 850 East Falmouth, MA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

LEFT HUB-BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT 44,490 MILES AND THEN HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #748473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Volvo 850 Sante FE, NM

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.

1993 Volvo 850 Chestnut Ridge, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES HE HAS TO USE SHIFT OVERRIDE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK TO PUT IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #561107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Volvo 850 Chestnut Ridge, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE SHIFT OVER RIDE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA complaint #887291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Volvo 850 Upper Montclair, NJ

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING IT NOT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. NLM

NHTSA complaint #784990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Volvo 850 Aurora, CO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A CAR THAT I SERVICED EVERY 3-5K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #741962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Volvo 850 Beaumont, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS UPON ACCELEATION. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Volvo 850 LOS Angeles, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

CV BOOT REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #554552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Volvo 850 problems