I HAVE A 1997 VOLVO MODEL 850 T-5 THAT I WAS DRIVING DURING A SNOW AND ICE STORM WHEN THE HEATER/BLOWER STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON, THUS CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DRAIN ON MY DRIVING REFLEXES AND BEING ABLE TO SEE SINCE THE WINDOWS ALL STARTED TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE AND ICE ON THE OUTSIDE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BEC…
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I HAVE A 1997 VOLVO MODEL 850 T-5 THAT I WAS DRIVING DURING A SNOW AND ICE STORM WHEN THE HEATER/BLOWER STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON, THUS CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DRAIN ON MY DRIVING REFLEXES AND BEING ABLE TO SEE SINCE THE WINDOWS ALL STARTED TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE AND ICE ON THE OUTSIDE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BECOME INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER/BLOWER. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS TYPE OF VOLVO THAT THE HEATER BLOWERS FAIL FOR NO REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO TO REPLACE THIS HEATER/BLOWER WILL COST OVER 500.00 . THIS IS NOT RIGHT SINCE A HEATER/BLOWER IS ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A VEHICLE IN THE NORTH EAST PART OF THE USA, AND FOR THAT MATTER ANYWHERE.. ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN WITH A NEW MOTOR BLOWER, IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. IT COULD EVEN HAPPEN A DAY AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW ONE SINCE THIS IS THE WAY VOLVO HAS MADE THEM. I THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS THIS IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104311
39,000 miles · Jan 21, 2004
SteeringVisibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE IN USE. THE ARM FELL OFF. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10055547
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2003
VisibilityInjury
THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS HAVE A GAP IN THE WINDOW TRACK. A CHILD'S FINGER WAS PINCHED,AS A RESULT OF THE GAPWHILE THE WINDOW WAS BEING ADJUSTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10021944
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2002
EquipmentSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR 3-5 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON WHEN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BOTTOM HEATER CAUGHT FIRE, THE INVESIGATOR REPORTED THAT THIS FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF UNREGULATED OPERATION OF THE HEATER PAD WIRES. NLM
NHTSA ODI #564487
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Visibility
DEALER HAD FOUND A CRACK ON AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, WICH WILL NOT LET HEAT TO GET ONTO FLOOR LEVEL. CONSUMER HAD NOTICED PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
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.
ON SOME SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT HEATERS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION OF THE SEAT CUSHION COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OF THE SEAT HEATER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT THE EXISTING WIRES AND INSTALL A NEW ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT AND CABLE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
VOLVO IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION DEVELOPED DURING ITS INVESTIGATION.VOLVO'SSURVEY OF VEHICLES ROUTINELY BROUGHT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT EAST-COAST DEALERSHIPS PRODUCED EVIDENCE THAT BARE METAL WIRES (THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT BOTTOM) CAN CONTACT THE THERMOSTAT AND ELECTRICAL WIRESIN OR BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION.THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.VOLVO CONFIRMED IN TESTING THAT IF SUCH A CONDITION IS PRESENT, THE SHORT TO THE WIRE SEAT SUPPORT COULD CAUSE BURNING OF THE SEAT CUSHION WITHOUT ACTIVATING (OPENING) THE SEAT HEATER FUSE.VOLVO WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ELECTRONIC TIMER DELAY UNIT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
VOLVO IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION DEVELOPED DURING ITS INVESTIGATION.VOLVO'SSURVEY OF VEHICLES ROUTINELY BROUGHT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT EAST-COAST DEALERSHIPS PRODUCED EVIDENCE THAT BARE METAL WIRES (THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT BOTTOM) CAN CONTACT THE THERMOSTAT AND ELECTRICAL WIRESIN OR BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION.THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.VOLVO CONFIRMED IN TESTING THAT IF SUCH A CONDITION IS PRESENT, THE SHORT TO THE WIRE SEAT SUPPORT COULD CAUSE BURNING OF THE SEAT CUSHION WITHOUT ACTIVATING (OPENING) THE SEAT HEATER FUSE.VOLVO WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ELECTRONIC TIMER DELAY UNIT.
Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
VOLVO IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION DEVELOPED DURING ITS INVESTIGATION.VOLVO'SSURVEY OF VEHICLES ROUTINELY BROUGHT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT EAST-COAST DEALERSHIPS PRODUCED EVIDENCE THAT BARE METAL WIRES (THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT BOTTOM) CAN CONTACT THE THERMOSTAT AND ELECTRICAL WIRESIN OR BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION.THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.VOLVO CONFIRMED IN TESTING THAT IF SUCH A CONDITION IS PRESENT, THE SHORT TO THE WIRE SEAT SUPPORT COULD CAUSE BURNING OF THE SEAT CUSHION WITHOUT ACTIVATING (OPENING) THE SEAT HEATER FUSE.VOLVO WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE THERMOSTAT ASSEMBLY WITH AN ELECTRONIC TIMER DELAY UNIT.
PE02029 · Passenger Compartment Fires
Opened Mar 7, 2002 · Closed Aug 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
PE99040 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jun 7, 1999 · Closed Oct 27, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
No summary supplied.
1997 Volvo 850 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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