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

Air Bags complaints

7 reports

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240,000 miles · Aug 19, 2012

Air BagsInjury

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THE CONSOLE AND STEERING WHEEL WERE WET FROM RAIN. THE SRS DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 5 MILES AFTER THAT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE BAG WAS THE ORIGINAL BAG. THE SRS LIGHT HAD GONE ON ONCE 20 MONTHS BEFORE WHEN THE CONSOLE GOT WET. THE DEALERSHIP RAN A TEST FOR ABOUT $115 EACH ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND SAID THE CAUSE OF THE SRS LIGHT COMING ON WAS INDETERMINATE. TWENTY MONTHS AGO A TOP, LONGTIME VOLVO DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME THAT AIR BAGS NEVER GO OFF WITHOUT AN IMPACT. HE SAID THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SINGLE OCCASION OF THAT EVER HAPPENING. I SHOULD HAVE GOOGLED THE TOPIC. I WOULD HAVE SEEN RIGHT AWAY THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. TWO BONES IN MY FOREARM WERE BROKEN AND HEAVY BRUISES THAT ARE STILL VISIBLE 5 WEEKS LATER WERE LEFT ON MY STOMACH AND THIGHS. CORPORATE OFFICES AND THE DEALERSHIP SAY THE BAG WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; A REPLACEMENT STEERING WHEEL TO INSTALL A NEW BAG IS NOT AVAILABLE; AND THAT THEY WILL NOT DISCONNECT THE PASSENGER BAG, THOUGH I CONSIDER IT A TIME BOMB. BEFORE WRITING AN EMAIL ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE BLAME ON ME, ERICA AT "THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF VOLVO" LEFT AN APPARENTLY INANE VOICE MAIL THAT I HAVE SAVED FOR NOW SAYING "THIS IS NOT EXACTLY A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. WE DO KNOW WHY THE BAG DEPLOYED IN YOUR VEHICLE." I EMAILED BACK THAT HER CLAIM THAT "WE" KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE BAG TO DEPLOY "STRUCK ME AS ODD BECAUSE NO ONE AT THE VOLVO [DEALERSHIP] THIS PAST WEEK SAID THAT THEY KNEW." EVEN AFTER RUNNING A CHECK ON THE SRS SYSTEM, AND CHARGING ME $115 TO DO SO, THEY STILL SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW. IN FACT A FEW WEEKS AGO TWO LONG TIME SERVICE MANAGERS WERE SAYING MY EXPERIENCE WAS UNPRECEDENTED OR IMPOSSIBLE. I SUGGESTED IN ANOTHER EMAIL TO ERICA THAT THE CORPORATION HAD A MORAL OBLIGATION TO INFORM THEIR SERVICE MANAGERS OF DOCUMENTED CASES OF SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471432

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2008

Air BagsInjury

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I OWN A 1994 VOLVO 850 SEDAN. I WAS PARKED ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN PORTLAND ST. AND GOT IN MY CAR, TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IT WAS SO LOUD I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT. (AS DID PASSERSBY) MY CAR FILLED WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SMOKE (DUE TO GUNPOWDER SMELL) AND GOT OUT QUICKLY. I WAS VERY DISTRAUGHT AND IN SHOCK...MY ARMS AND CHEST HAD BURNS AND CUTS AND BRUISES INSTANTLY. I WENT TO THE ER..THANKFULLY NOTHING BROKEN BUT NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY (FARMER'S) IS SAYING IT'S NOT COVERED SINCE IT IS "SO RARE" AND THEY FEEL "DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT". I THEN CONTACTED VOLVO HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT SINCE THE CAR IS 14 YRS. OLD THERE COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE A "FACTORY DEFECT". AT THIS POINT I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS. I FEEL LIKE I AM SUCH AN INNOCENT VICTIM IN ALL THIS. ALL I DID WAS TRY TO START MY CAR........... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238103

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001

Air BagsInjury

WHILE TRAVELING ON RAMP AT 5 MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DRIVER AND PASSANGER WERE INJURED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #898554

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000

Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AT 20MPH, AND BOTH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALLOWING A CHEMICAL TO BE RELEASED AND BURN THE DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856923

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 · Nov 6, 1995

Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45MPH, DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A LIGHT POLE. TT

NHTSA ODI #974644

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 1995

Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING BURNS AND INJURIES. *AW

NHTSA ODI #489534

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.