IllustrationPASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE . CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN THE FIRE WENT OUT BY ITSELF. *AK
1994 Volvo 850
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Volvo 850 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 850 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 83 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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
What owners actually said
83 reportsTRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. CAR ROLLED FORWARD WHEN PARKED ON HILL; THINKING THAT IT NEEDED MORE GAS TO GO BACKWARDS I ACCELERATED, GEAR ENGAGED AFTER FIVE SECONDS SENDING CAR BACKWARDS SURPRISINGLY FAST. THIS SLIPPAGE IN REVERSE REOCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. IF A PEDESTRIAN WAS EITHER AT THE FRONT OR BACK OF MY…
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TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. CAR ROLLED FORWARD WHEN PARKED ON HILL; THINKING THAT IT NEEDED MORE GAS TO GO BACKWARDS I ACCELERATED, GEAR ENGAGED AFTER FIVE SECONDS SENDING CAR BACKWARDS SURPRISINGLY FAST. THIS SLIPPAGE IN REVERSE REOCCURS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. IF A PEDESTRIAN WAS EITHER AT THE FRONT OR BACK OF MY CAR THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT.
HYDRAULIC UNIT LEAKED BRAKE FLUID - PROBABLE CAUSE WAS FAILED INTERNAL GASKETS OR SEALS. RESULT: LOSS OF FLUID AND POTENTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. LOW FLUID LEVEL WARNING ALLOWED DETECTION OF CONDITION. WE (DEALER & I) DETERMINED CONDITION WAS SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER REPLACED UNIT BUT CHARGED ME 1/3 OF COST, (@ $440) SPLITTIN…
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HYDRAULIC UNIT LEAKED BRAKE FLUID - PROBABLE CAUSE WAS FAILED INTERNAL GASKETS OR SEALS. RESULT: LOSS OF FLUID AND POTENTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. LOW FLUID LEVEL WARNING ALLOWED DETECTION OF CONDITION. WE (DEALER & I) DETERMINED CONDITION WAS SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER REPLACED UNIT BUT CHARGED ME 1/3 OF COST, (@ $440) SPLITTING BALANCE WITH VOLVO. I WAS INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMENT MANUF. MUST REPAIR SAFETY ITEMS @ NO COST TO ME. APPLICABLE TO THIS SITUATION? FEEL FREE TO CALL OR WRITE FOR MORE INFO. THANKS FOR THIS WEB PAGE.
REAR DELTA LINKS MALFUNCTIONED.
ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. IN ADDITION, DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED, LEAVING WINDSHIELD COVERED WITH ICE AND SNOW, CREATING A DANGEROUS VISIBILITY PROBLEM. *AK
AFTER HITTING POTHOLE, WHEEL BROKE. ALSO, REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A LEAK. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAME WITH 16 INCH WHEEL, REPEATED BLOWOUTS WITHOUT TIRE GOING FLAT,VOLVO SUGGESTED TO SWITCH TO 15 INCH WHEEL, WHEEL CRACKED AROUND THE MIDDLE. DEALER CLAIMS WHEEL BEARING ON 2 FRONT WHEELS PITTED. *AK
POWER WINDOW FAILED. YH
HORN FAILED.
WHEN ATTACHING THE JACK TO THE CLAMP WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ON SOME SORT OF GRADE, THE JACK BEGINS TO SLIP AND BENDS OVER. ANY MOVEMENT ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WIGGLE, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EMERGENCY JACK, THE BALLOON TIRE AND PROCEDURES PROVID…
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WHEN ATTACHING THE JACK TO THE CLAMP WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ON SOME SORT OF GRADE, THE JACK BEGINS TO SLIP AND BENDS OVER. ANY MOVEMENT ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WIGGLE, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EMERGENCY JACK, THE BALLOON TIRE AND PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WERE INADEQUATE AND DANGEROUS. *YH
Official recalls
204V368000 · 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
2EA03008 · 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.