1997 VOLVO 850 Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLVO 850. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD ALSO NOT DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT IT WAS NEVER USED BY THE CONTACT. WHEN THE SWITCH WAS ENGAGED, THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD MOMENTARILY ILLUMINATE. HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V235000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

1. LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES STALLING DURING FREEWAY TRANSITION FROM ON RAMP TO FREEWAY AND OR DURING LEFT TURNING AGAINST TRAFFIC. 2. THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ACTION OF PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DOWN SHIFT CAUSING THE EXTREME SLOWING AND SOMETIMES STALLING. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE THAT TRAFFIC WAS GOING CONSIDERABLY FASTER AND HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID HITTING THE SLOWING CAR. 3. TODAY THE MEDIA REPORTED A POTENTIAL RECALL OF VOLVO'S DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 1997 MODEL 850 GLT. *JB

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.

THE TRAC OFF LIGHT COMES ON ON MY 1997 VOLVO 850 GLT TURBO WAGON. APPARENTLY, THE TRAC, NO LONGER WORKS AND I HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND RELATES DIRECTLY TO A SAFETY CLAIM MADE BY VOLVO. FROM THE LIST SERV THAT I AM ON, APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST 1996-1998 VOLVOS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNUSUAL HYDROPLANING IN SMALL PUDDLES OF WATER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED CHUNKS ON THE OUTSIDE RIM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS UNUSUAL WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ALIGNMENT WAS BAD ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS MICHELIN. MODEL: ENERGY. SIZE: 195/60/R15.*AK

CAR WOULD NOT START - APPEARED TO BE DEAD BATTERY - REPLACED BATTERY - CAR STARTED, NEXT DAY CAR BATTERY DEAD - JUMPED BATTERY, CAR STARTED-2 HOURS LATER CAR BATTERY DEAD - TESTED NEW BATTERY TESTED OK. JUMPED BATTERY TOOK CAR TO VOLVO DEALER - LAWRENCE MOTORS IN WALNUT CREEK - TOOK SERVICE DEPARTMENT 1 DAY? TO DIAGNOSE - "WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $2,000 COST!! CAR TO BE READY IN 3 TO 4 WEEKS (SEPTEMBER 1ST), THEN DELAYED (UNKNOWN REASONS), DELAYED TO OCT 1ST, AS OF TODAYS CALL OCT 6, 2005 WAS ADVISED CAR NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL POSSIBLY NOV 1ST. WHY WOULD A CAR WITH 100,000 MILES AND 8 YEARS OLD (ALWAYS PROPERLY SERVICED) REQUIRE A NEW WIRING HARNESS? AND AT SUCH A COST? AND WHY DOES THE PART TAKE OVER 90 DAYS TO RECEIVE?*JB

HEATING AND COOLING FAN STARTED COMING ON, 7/7/2003, CAR OVER HEATED 10/04, DEALER REPLACED FAN AT MY COST. SHIFT OVER DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON 12/04 DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH, 6/05 SHIFT OVER DRIVE SWITCH CAME BACK ON, NOW 2 SOLENOIDS ARE NOT WORKING AND MY CAR IS IN LIMP HOME MODE. NO 1ST OR 2 GEAR. *NM

SEAT BELT RETRATOR ON BACK PASSENGER SEAT IS STUCK. THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE USED.

HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. HEADLIGHT SWITCH DID NOT WORK. I PHONED VOLVO TO HONOR THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V235000. VOLVO INFORMED ME THIS VOLVO DID NOT QUALIFY.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO TWO YEARS OF THE SAME MODEL 850 VOLVO,A 1994 AND A1997T. BOTH CARS HAD MAIN OIL SEAL FAILURES. THE 1994 CAR WAS A HIGH MILEAGE CAR WITH ABOUT 180,000 MILES IT STARTED LEAKING AT 150,000 MILES AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE TO POINT OF ONE TO TWO QUARTS A DAY. WE DECIDED TO TRADE THE CAR IN AND PURCHASE ANOTHER 850 BECAUSE WE HAD GOOD SERVICE OUT OF THE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE OIL LEAKS. I WAS HONEST WITH THE DEALER WHY I WAS TRADING IN THE CAR. THE DEALER WAS THE LOCAL DEALER FOR DAYTON OHIO,FRANK Z IMPORTS. THE SALESMAN FAILED TO INFORM US THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE 850 MODEL. NOW THE 1997 MODEL STARTED LEAKING AT 90,000 MILES. I DISCOVERED THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WHEN I RESEARCHED COMPLAINT FILES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL ENGINE FIRES DUE TO OIL LEAKING ON HOT EXHAUST PIPES . I FEEL THE DEALER OR MFG. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS. TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS MFG.PROBLEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CAR MFG. AND THE DEALER FOR NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I USED TO PRAISE VOLVO, FOR I AM A AIRCRAFT MECHANIC OF 25 YEARS. I WILL NO LONGER DO SO AND IF ASKED I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A VOLVO OR FRANK Z IMPORTS. *JB