Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

12 reports

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80,000 miles · Jul 7, 2006

Electrical System

I BELIEVE IT'S THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. I'VE HAD THE PART REPLACED AND YET THE CAR STILL RUNS POORLY. IT STALLS, LOOSES SPEED, AND QUITS RUNNING ALL TOGETHER. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161814

125,444 miles · Aug 21, 2005

Electrical System

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I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. STRANGELY, FIRST IT STARTED OUT CUTTING OFF WHENEVER I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR WOULD JUST CUT OFF, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WOULD COME ON. I HAVE HAD THREE AUTO REPAIR PLACES LOOK AT IT. OF COURSE I WAS ADVISED TO DO SEVERAL THINGS WHICH THEY THOUGHT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. WELL THE LASTEST AND WORST HAPPENED ON 8/6 WHEN THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ON A BUSY STREET. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE FAR SIDE AND SWITCH THE CAR OFF AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. PLEASE I NEED HELP. I AM SCARED TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE IN FEAR THAT IT WILL SHUT DOWN ON ME.

NHTSA ODI #10133654

120,000 miles · Aug 4, 2005

Electrical System

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RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY ABOUT VOLVO'S STALLING, LOSING SPEED AND ETC. THAT PERFECTLY DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM WITH MY 1994 VOLVO 850 SEDAN. OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE HAD VERY SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH OUR CAR LOSING SPEED AND DYING IN TRAFFIC. AFTER EACH INCIDENT IT HAS RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND WILL NOT REPEAT THE FAILURE WITH ANY FREQUENCY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP. BOTH PLACES HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND SINCE WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. I REALIZE THE INVESTIGATION IS FOR THE YEAR 1999 - 2001 BUT I HOPE THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE LIKE ME AND YOU MIGHT CONSIDER EXTENDING THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOUR ARE INVESTIGATING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10131600

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2002

Electrical System

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I COULD NOT REMOVE MY KEY WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. TRIED ALL COMBINATIONS OF GEAR POSITIONS, ETC, NOTHING WORKED. PROBLEM IS THE NUMBER OF CARS STOLEN IN THE US WITH KEYS LEFT IN THE IGNITION. A RECALL SHOULD BE LAUNCHED TO PREVENT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THE MECHANICAL DESIGN OF THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE A CONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THIS NATIONAL PROBLEM. A FAIL SAFE MECHANISM WITH OVER RIDE CAPABILITIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN EVERY CAR DESIGN TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN! DT

NHTSA ODI #770310

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001

Electrical System

HORN COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE IS NO SOUND. ALSO, AFTER FIFTH ATTEMP TO START, IT COMES ON. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT HER CONTACTS WERE BAD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894751

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 1999

Electrical System

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THE CAR STRUCK A POTHOLE IN A JACKSON, MS RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT (35MPH). THIS ACTION CAUSED THE HORN TO STICK. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ON THIS TYPE MODEL AND YEAR OF VOLVO. HE SAYS THE CAUSE IS ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROBLEMS IN THE HORN ASSEMBLY WHICH CAUSES THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL TO NEED REPLACING (APPROX $800 COST). SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE CONTACT ASSY (RE REPORT # 705930). THIS PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATED. MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC AFTER THE EVENT WITH THE HORN BLASTING AWAY. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THIS, IT STILL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RECALL/RE-DESIGN, ESPECIALLY IN A CAR PRODUCT THAT IS SOLD WITH EMPHASIS ON SAFETY RELATED FEATURES. IN ADDITION, THE HORN IS FUSED ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE HORN, I DISABLED IT BE REMOVING THE FUSE. ON MY WAY TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS, A THUNDERSTORM OCCURRED WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS CERTAINLY PLACED IN GREAT DANGER GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AROUND ME ON A SECTION OF HIGHWAY THAT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #708529

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1999

Electrical System

THE STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL ON WHICH THE HORN RING WAS MOUNTED DISINTEGRATED. THE RESULT WAS THE ELECTRICALLY CHARGED HORN MECHANISM INTOLERABLY ADJACENT TO THE AIRBAG MECHANISME IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HORN ELECTRICS HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED AS DID THE AIRBAG TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DANGER OF INCORRECTLY ACTIVATING TH…

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NHTSA ODI #705930

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1997

Electrical System

HORN FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604257

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1997

Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

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IF THE CRASH SENSOR LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE UNDER THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT CUP HOLDER BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT SEATS GETS WET IT WILL DISABLE THE AIR BAGS, AND THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT WORK. THE DEALER WANTS THE OWNER TO PAY 1158 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT HE IS HAVING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT NOT TO WORK IF EITHER FUNCTION GETS WET. *AK VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED FLASHING LIGHTS AND DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY REGULATOR, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE CRASH SENSOR DID NOT GET WET DUE TO IT HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR INSPECTION, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS AN ELECRICAL PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING LIGHTS TO FLASH AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #815872

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 1996

Electrical SystemSteering

ENGINE WILL STALL, TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING . TT

NHTSA ODI #977309

Official recalls

04V368000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Jul 30, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HEAT, THE FUEL TANK MAY SEEP OR LEAK FUEL AT THE POINTS WHERE THE HEAT SHIELD IS ATTACHED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE IT IF ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL SEEPAGE OR LEAKAGE IS FOUND. ALL VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE NEW REINFORCEMENT BUSHINGS AT THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS. THIS RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED AS A SAFETY RECALL IN THE HOT WEATHER STATES OF ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, AND UTAH, AND AS A SERVICE RECALL IN THE OTHER 33 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

94V173000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 13, 1994

UNDER VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, ICE CRYSTALS CAN FORM AT THE THROTTLE IN THE ENGINE INTAKE SYSTEM, AND PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL AND CAN RESULT IN UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY, THROTTLE CABLE, CHARGE AIR COOLER PIPING AND CRANKCASE VENTILATION HOSES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA03008 · Fuel Tank Leaks

Opened Jun 11, 2003 · Closed Jul 28, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WAS OPENED ON JUNE 11, 2003, BASED ON 54 REPORTS OF FUEL TANK LEAKS.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 1993 THROUGH 1996 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES. MODEL 850 WAS ALSO PRODUCED IN MY 1997 AND WAS INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALS TWO DISTINCT ISSUES. FIRST, THE 1994 THROUGH 1997 MY VEHICLES STAND OUT BY ACCOUNTING FOR 95 PERCENT OF THE REPORTED LEAKS.THESE VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME FUEL TANK DESIGN (PN 9142618). THE 1993 MY VEHICLE USES A DIFFERENT FUEL TANK DESIGN (PN 9141101).SECONDLY, THE FAILURES OCCURRED PREDOMINANTLY IN HOT CLIMATES, E.G., CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, TEXAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, ETC.TESTING OF FUEL TANKS FROM CONSUMER VEHICLES AT THE VEHICLE RESEARCH AND TEST CENTER CONFIRMED LEAKS THROUGH CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANK WALL AT A HEAT SHIELD MOUNTING ATTACHMENT IN THE 1994 THROUGH 1997 MY FUEL TANKS (PN9142618). DETAILS OF THE TESTS ARE AVAILABLE IN TEST REPORT VRTC-DCD3060.VOLVO WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON ALL MY 1994 THROUGH 1997 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING 17 HOT STATES: CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL, NC, TN, AR, OK, UT, NV, AND HI.ALL 1994 THROUGH 1997 MY VEHICLES IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE REMEDIED UNDER A SERVICE CAMPAIGN.THE REMEDY FOR BOTH THE RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN IS TO INSTALL A NEW BUSHING AT EACH HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINT (3 PER TANK).ALSO, ALL TANKS (VEHICLES IN ALL STATES) WILL BE INSPECTED FOR FUEL SEEPAGE AT THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINTS AND VOLVO WILL REPLACE ANY TANK SHOWING SIGNS OF FUEL SEEPAGE.THE NEW BUSHINGS WILL PREVENT HEAT SHIELD STRESSES FROM BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE THREE HEAT SHIELD MOUNTING ATTACHMENTS ON THE FUEL TANK.THE SAFETY RECALL IS FILED UNDER NHTSA SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 04V368.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

PE03003 · Fuel Tank Leaks

Opened Jan 16, 2003 · Closed Jun 11, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THISINVESTIGATION ON JANUARY 16, 2003.THE BASIS FOR OPENING THE INVESTIGATION WAS 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL STORAGE TANK.VOLVO PROVIDED 43 ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, 4 OF WHICH WERE DUPLICATES OF THE 15 ODI REPORTS. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.