1997 Volvo 850

INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT BROKE APART AT HINGE LINKING SEAT TO SEAT-BACK (SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED, BUT ONLY TO HOLD THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT IN PLACE). THE METAL HINGE BROKE INTO 4 PIECES AND COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT/BACK. THE SEAT WAS USED BY ONLY ONE CHILD, AND AT 55 LBS WELL BELOW THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF 80 POUNDS. THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT REMAINED IN THE BOOSTER-SEAT POSITION MOST OF THE TIME AND WAS NOT SUBJECT TO AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF OPENING AND CLOSING. THIS SUGGESTS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY AND EVEN THE LIFE OF A CHILD STRAPPED INTO THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT. IF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FAILURE WAS NOT NOTICED BY A PARENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH-IMPACT CRASH, THE SEAT COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE ITSELF, PROPELLING THE CHILD INTO SEATS OR WINDOWS.

1997 VOLVO 850R. GRADUAL INCREASE IN FREQUENCY OF INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE ABS AND TRACS LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND THEN GO OFF. THERE SEEM TO BE SO MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS THAT THIS ISN'T AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. HAVING UNPREDICTABLE BRAKES IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO I'VE GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE DISCS AND 5 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE PADS IN 90,000 MILES. EVEN WHEN THE DISCS ARE NOT WORN OUT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SPONGY EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY BLED OF AIR. THE DISCS ALSO WARP VERY EASILY EASILY. HOW CAN VOLVO TOLERATE THIS? I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER. WE PICKED UP A LEXUS YESTERDAY AND THE VOLVO IS UP FOR SALE. I CAN UNDERSTAND A MANUFACTURER HAVING PROBLEMS BUT I CANNOT FORGIVE IT'S TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

SEAT BELTS FRONT THEY ARE VERY SHORT AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE NECK I AM 5 6 AND HEAVY AND HAVE TO USE THE EXTENSION. I DO NOT THINK THE SEAT BELT IS SAFE AT ALL. IT WOULD CAUSE INJURY IN A CRASH. FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD LOWER THE SEAT BELT FASTENER SO IT COMES ACROSS THE SHOULDERS. THE ENTENDER SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IF ENOUGH SEAT BELT WAS MADE AVAILABLE. FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS.

ABS/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE FAULTY...COST US $700 TO REPAIR...ACCORDING TO OUR VOLVO DEALER, VOLVO IS AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN A LOT OF VOLVO'S BUT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO NOT CONDUCT A RECALL...THIS IS WRONG AND VOLVO NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS...IT'S AN ABSOULUTE DISGRACE...WE'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLVO...TOO MANY PROBLEMS, VERY POOR RELIABILITY!*AK

1997 VOLVO 850. THE ABS AND TRACS LIGHTS ARE ON APPROX. 90% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT AND STOPPING DISTANCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. WHEN LIGHTS ARE OFF, BRAKE PEDAL GETS FIRMER AFTER PUMPING AND BRAKING DISTANCE IS REDUCED. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS. DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM DURING REPEATED VISITS. INEFFECTIVE BRAKES AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHILE BRAKING CONTRIBUTED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE VEHICLE AND A SEMI-TRAILER.*AK