The 1996 Volvo 850 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 291,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. 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,…
SEATS02V3140002002-11-1965,000 affected
Defect
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
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…
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
32
1crashes2fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
20
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
11
8fires1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9
4crashes1injuries1deaths
TIRES
9
1crashes1injuries
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
6
5fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
6
3fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
6
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
1fires
Total complaints235
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My fuel tank started leaking exactly as the recall # 04v368000 describes, where the heat shield connects to the fuel tank. I filled up, drove 3 miles home, parked in my driveway, and smelled gas, but did not *see* anything at that time. It lost 6 gallons of fuen in about 3 hours hours. Volvo says…”
“This vehicle has a leak at a seam of the gas tank. Chen engine light is on with obo 11 code p0455 evaporative emission system leak detected large leak no flow. A certified volvo repair facility has verified crack at seam from gas tank. *tr”
“This vehicle has a leak at a seam of the gas tank. Chen engine light is on with obo 11 code p0455 evaporative emission system leak detected large leak no flow. A certified volvo repair facility has verified crack at seam from gas tank. *tr”
“Runaway accelerator ? On entering interstate, I quickly realized that the accelerator was locked into the floored position. I had a runaway situation with traffic. I was unable to slow the car or release the accelerator. Fortunately, I had the knowledge and sense to slow the car. Pumping the…”
“Tl* the contact owns four cooper zeon spt tires, size 205 55 r16. The contact was rotating the tires, when he noticed the front drivers side tire was bald. The tires were inspected and the contact was advised that the tires were down to the wear bar. The tires were not replaced. The tire…”
“I own a 1996 volvo 850 turbo. Recently the gas tank began to leak at the seam on the driver side next to exhaust heat shield I called volvo and they told me that my for my vin # there is no recall; on the internet there is a recall for the same vehicle gas storage issues. Exactly on the same side…”
“On february 9, 2008 I purchased at mavis tire four (4) new cooper zeon tires with a rating of 400 aaa. In approximately six thousand (6,000) I find one pair completely worn while the other set full thread. I called mavis tire and spoke with stu who said he is the manager. He suggested I come into…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 volvo 850. The contact stated that when traveling over different deviations on the road, the rear end of the vehicle would fish tail. In addition, the vehicle would sporadically stall without warning. The contact would have to receive a jump start in order to restart…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02019 Opened 2002-08-22 · closed 2002-12-18
SEAT FIRES
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…
InvestigationEA02019 Opened 2002-08-22 · closed 2002-12-18
SEAT FIRES
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…
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…
InvestigationPE02029 Opened 2002-03-07 · closed 2002-08-22
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRES
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…
InvestigationPE97045 Opened 1997-10-23 · closed 1998-02-13
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ODI HAS RECEIVED FOUR OWNER COMPLAINTS OF VOLVO 850 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES, ALL INVOLVING 1996 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES.TABLE 1 SHOWS THE DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE INCIDENTS KNOWN TO ODI AND VOLVO BY MODEL YEAR AND INCIDENT YEAR FOR ALL 1993-97 VOLVO 850 VEHICLES.VOLVO HAS CLASSIFIED MOST OF THE FIRES AS OCCURRING FROM…
InvestigationPE99040 Opened 1999-06-07 · closed 1999-10-27
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Volvo 850 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.