VOLVO Complaints

THE ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY 1997 VOLVO 850 HAS AN INTERNAL SHORT OR LOOSE CONNECTION AS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP. IF YOU DO RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER ON THE INTERNET OR BY CALLING THE VOLVO DEALERSHIPS, YOU WILL FIND THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY IN THESE CARS. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON THERE IS NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND THIS CAN CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP DURING HARD BRAKING APPLICATIONS, AND EASILY ON MOIST OR WET ROADS. AS A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE ON THESE CARS AND ESPECIALLY A VOLVO, WHO IS KNOWN FOR THEIR SAFE AUTOMOBILES THIS CONTROL MODULE FAILS VERY OFTEN AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF BRAKES LOCK UP IN A PANIC STOP. JB

VOLVO 850 ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC MODULATOR PUMP DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT FLUID LEAK (3-6 OZ PER DAY, OR GREATER). THIS PART IS NON-REPAIRABLE AND MUST BE REPLACED AT GREAT COST (QUOTED $1900). AS A KEY BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENT, FAILURE OF THIS PART MAY CAUSE (1) SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION DUE TO AIR & MOISTURE INTRUSION INTO THE BRAKE LINES, (2) NON-FUNCTIONING BRAKES WHEN GREATER AMOUNTS OF FLUID ARE SUDDENLY LOST, AND/OR (3) FIRE DANGER, WHEN DRIPPING BRAKE FLUID CONTACTS NEARBY EXHAUST MANIFOLD COMPONENTS. *JB

REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OVER UNDERSIDE OF CAR, INCLUDING EXHAUST, POTENTIALLY CAUSING FIRE. NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME FAILURE AT VARIOUS MILEAGE INTERVALS. *JB

FUMES ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ODOR WAS THOUGHT TO BE A COSMOLENE LIKE SUBSTANCE, THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY SUBSIDE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. *AK *JB

THE SIDE MIRRORS FAILED TO STAY IN THE POSITION THEY WERE SET IN, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

I NOTICED AN ODD NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, BUT NOTHING WAS. AT TIME OF STATE INSPECTION, I ALERTED THE INSPECTORS. THEY FELT SOMETHING BUMPING FROM WITHIN THE GAS TANK. I DISASSEMBLED THE FLOOR COVERINGS AND INSPECTION PORTS FOR FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE SENDER. I REMOVED THE GAUGE SENDER AND LOOKED INTO THE TANK AND OBSERVED A PLASTIC BOWL-LIKE OBJECT SURROUNDING THE FUEL PUMP. I ROCKED THE CAR AND THIS BOWL WOULD SLOSH AGAINST THE PUMP. THIS OBJECT APPEARS TO BE A BAFFLE TO REDUCE SLOSHING AROUND THE PUMP. IT WOULD SEEM THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE GLUED IN PLACE, BUT HAS BROKEN LOOSE. I SUPPOSE THAT THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY DAMAGE PUMP OR TANK. A NEW TANK WILL COST CLOSE TO $400 WHICH I WILL NOW ORDER. ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE/TRACS SYSTEM MODULE.*JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT,THE WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT, THE SEATS RECLINED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V23 8000. REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *JB

PROBLEMS CONCERNING VOLVOS. MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS A SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER SYSTEM IN WHICH ONLY A VOLVO DEALER CAN FIX OR IN SOME CASES IT PREVENTS MECHANICS FROM COMPLETING THE WORK. *JB

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE CHILD IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND AS A RESULT HE RAN HIS SON OVER. *TS