The 1994 Volvo 850 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 240,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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
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,…
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
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.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I have a 1994 volvo 850. I have a leak where the heat shield is attached to the gas tank. Volvo is well aware of this problem but my vin does not show the recall. The leak of gas is 100% from the recalled spot heatshield side of the gas tank. This is a safety issue because it could blow back on…”
“We smell gas. When stop notice fuel leaking from fuel entry pipe. When got closer look it was leaking from fuel entry pipe that connected to fuel tank. *tr”
“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…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 volvo 850 turbo. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, fuel leaked from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer stated that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that the remedy for…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 volvo 850. The contact stated that the radiator for the heating core was leaking and emitting chemical fumes into the vehicle. As a result, the contact suffered a severe respiratory problem. The contact was taken to the hospital on various occasions for treatment. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 volvo 850. The contact stated he noticed gasoline leaking from the left side of the fuel tank. He added gasoline to the vehicle and noticed the leak continued. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where they discovered several cracks on the heat shield…”
“Because of failure of internal latching mechanisms, the doors of the 1994 volvo 850 (and possibly other models) after being closed can suddenly and without warning be rendered permanently closed and unable to be opened from either inside or outside the vehicle. Use of the vehicle key, door locks…”
“I have had the smell of gas and evidence of leaks at the gas tank for about two years plus. I called volvo two years ago about the recall (nhtsa # ea03008 from july/2004). I was told that my car vin does not match the recall. I just had the tank pulled by my mechanic and it is a plastic tank which…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA03008 Opened 2003-06-11 · closed 2004-07-28
FUEL TANK LEAKS
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…
InvestigationPE03003 Opened 2003-01-16 · closed 2003-06-11
FUEL TANK LEAKS
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 Volvo 850 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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