1996 VOLVO 850 Complaints

THE LOW PROFILE TIRE / ALLOY WHEEL COMBINATION ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD HAZARDS (POT HOLES). TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE FRONT TIRE WAS DAMAGED (DID NOT LOSE PRESSURE, BUT DEVELOPED LARGE BULGE IN SIDEWALL) AND THE ALLOY WHEEL WAS DAMAGED (BENDING AND CRACKING OF WHEEL RIM).

CASING TO THE FUEL TANK WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK ALTHOUGH ITS A DEFECT VOLVO INSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTYS. THE DEFECT HAD A T.S.B ISSUED AND VEHCILE WAS NEVER CHECKED. *YH

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS STARTED SMELLING FUEL INSIDE THE CAR. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS PLASTIC. THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK WAS NEXT TO WERE THE EXHAUST PIPE RUNS. THIS, IN MY OPINION, COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. I FEEL LUCKY. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED I DISCOVERED IT WAS REDESIGNED, THUS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THIS WAS A KNOW PROBLEM TO VOLVO. I WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE LEVEL SENSOR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COMPATABLE WITH THE NEW DESIGN. I AM ALSO GOING TO BE CONTACTING VOLVO ABOUT THIS SITUTATION.

THE SEAT BELTS ARE VERY TIGHT AND DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. THEY ALLOW NO MOVEMENT AND YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE BELT TO ADJUST ANYTHING ON THE DASH. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT CHANGE THE BELT TO THE NEWER UNIT, THAT IS NOW IN THE V70. HE WANTED TO INSTALL AN EXTENSION BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO SIGN A NON RESPONSIBILITY WAVER WHICH WE WOULD NOT. I ASKED THE VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE TO WEAR THE BELT AND HE COULD NOT WITHOUT AN EXTENSION. WHEN WE WEAR WINTER COATS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE UP PROPERLY. I HAVE TURNED THE CAR IN UNDER WARRANTY SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING, BECAUSE VOLVO WOULD DO NOTHING. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON ALL 850 MODELS. THE BELTS ALSO FLY BACK WHEN REMOVED IF YOU CAN'T CATCH THEM. I HAVE BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE HEAD AND DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH VOLVO REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY SEVERAL TIMES. OUR FAMILY PURCHASED TWO VEHICLES, SAME MODEL AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO SAYS THE BELTS ARE SAFE, THATS THEIR ARGUMENT. I SAY THEY ARE VERY UNSAFE AND NOT COMFORTABLE. THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED EASILY WITH THE INSTALL OF THE V-70 BELTS. I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR THEM BUT VOLVO WON'T DO IT. DONALD P. CONE. *AK

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.

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE EXHAUST SMELL/FUMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE, NOT ABLE TO REMEDY FUME SMELL. *MJS

DOOR HINGE SECTION FASTENED TO SHEET METAL HAS FAILED ON DRIVERS SIDE. FAILURE IS STRUCTURAL TEAR CAUSING MOVEMENT OF DOOR CONTROL COMPONENT OF DRIVERS DOOR HINGE (BETWEEN TWO MAJOR HINGES). COMPONENT MOVES FLEXING SECTION OF DOOR FRAME ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES LONG AS DOOR IS OPENING AND CLOSING, CAUSING EXPANSION OF METAL TEAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER CAN SMELL STRONG ODOR OF SULPHUR. THIS CAUSES NAUSEA. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. VOLVO HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE WOULD MAKE NOISES. TOOK VEHICLE TO BODY SHOP & WAS INFORMED THAT HINGES WOULD NEED TO BE REWELDED BACK ON. *AK

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. *AK