Oxygen sensor failed twice.
Heated seats never worked properly from the get go.
Rear tail lights mysteriously went out three weeks after purchase.
Thousands of squeaks and rattles throughout interior.
Power antenna motor failure.
Power driver seat failed.
Check engine light is always on for various reasons of its own.
Transmission failed twice resulting in the car being towed both times to the dealership.
The emissions system cannot be depended upon.
Pieces of the interior breaking and falling off. Center armrest has broken four times and is broken right now as a matter of fact!
Dozens of other electrical-related and expensive problems still run rampant as we speak.
Buying this thing was the biggest mistake of my life. I thought Volvos were reliable, well-engineered cars. They are not at all! I can't wait to get rid of it for something else! This Volvo makes my mom's old Jaguar seem like a Lexus in terms of reliability.
Acceleration is pretty good, if you can get over the torque steer.
Seats are comfortable, audio system is OK, rear visibility is not good at all.
Lately, the steering in my car has become more heavy with a disconnected, ponderous feel to it. The quality of the interior materials is awful.
Maybe you just got a bad egg! I haven't heard a lot of bad things said about this car.
Bill U.K.
It sounds as though you may have purchased a lemon. I frequently deal with Volvo automobiles of various years and models, and have never heard reports to this negative of an extent before. I wouldn't lose faith in this great car company!!
Pat, U.S.
I agree completely. I bought a used 94 850 with 59Kmi about 8 months ago. Here is the list of problems:
Radiator leak required replacement
rear window seal failed and required replacement
roof liner material came unglued
interior plastic trim is of poor quality and cracked
ac/heater blower failed and required replacement
fuel pump died and required replacement
transmission is now failing.
If the transmission needs to be replaced, that will be about 4K in repairs in 8 months.
This car is a piece of crap and I'm about to go after the dealer if the tranny does not get fixed. The car is a lemon and I doubt that I would consider another volvo after this. I bought one on reputation - not a good idea at this point.
I've owned two 850's now and they do have their problems, but they seem to be consistent. The transmissions do fail and the micro switch on top of the tranny is a factory recall, get it replaced. Also, in the power seats, the cable for reclining breaks, replace it as well when or if it breaks. I've experienced the roof liner material coming off of the sunroof slider, I fixed it with $3 of 3M spray adhesive. I've driven both these cars HARD and they've taken the abuse. Sorry to hear that others are unhappy with the car. Its not Honda reliability, but you'll also live when you get hit by all the SUVs out there.
I have a 1994 850 right now and wouldn't trade it for the world. I am completely in love with this car! The only problem I've had is with the seat heater, but as that has no effect of the way the car runs, I am not worried. I always know my car will start and that I will fare well if in an accident. And for that peace of mind... I would pay a lot of money.
I'm pretty sure that you just picked a bad one. I bought mine new in 94 and havn't had any of the problems you described except for the random check engine light. my car now has 120,000 miles on it and still runs like a champ. you should read the car and driver article about it from a 1995 review they did between it and some other vehicles that were about the same price (including the 3-series BMW) and they gave rave reviews and it took home the gold!
I had no experience with Volvo cars prior to meeting my husband, who owns a 1994 850.
Let's say that my husbands mechanical skills are entirely lacking, and I'm the one that has taken over the reins in that department.
The car was bought used in 2000, and, in the beginning, she was taken to a Volvo dealer for regular maintenance. That ended somewhere around 2003.
I love driving the car. However, I have noticed our 850 having many of the same problems as others have noted.
The AC no longer works. The blower only works on setting 4. The shift lock acts up occassionally, and, in cold weather, we have trouble with acceleration.
I'm taking her in for a check-up in a couple of weeks. I found a site that lists how much it should cost, parts and labor, for various services on the car from a Volvo dealer. The most pressing thing is to have the timing belt replaced and an engine tune-up. But, I'm fearful as to what the mechanics may find. I wonder, do you think that some mechanics take advantage of Volvo owners given the fact that they are more complicated than say, a Honda? With my Honda and my Mitsubishi, I would just take it to the local lube joint, but Volvo's are tricky and I think the dealerships work that to their advantage.
I take some comfort reading these comments because I thought I was the only one who had a bad Volvo. I bought mine three months ago, with 100,000 miles on it. In that time I have spent about $1,600 on repairs (oxygen sensors, fuel pump, etc.), I cannot get FM on the radio and for some reason I have a standing pool of water in the trunk, where the spare is. then there are all the squeaks and rattles. I'm hoping to get through summer with it then cutting my losses and trading it in for something, anything, else.
I feel sorry about your bad experience. Unfortunately, used Volvos can be purchased for little money, so people don't realise that the running cost is not comparable to a Honda or a Toyota. Volvo 850s are complex pieces of automobile. The level of engineering that went into the 850s is amazing. Keeping in mind the level of performance, safety, handling and practicality, they have almost no equivalent even today. I drive (hard) an 850 turbo wagon with more than 250,000 miles and it is very reliable (engine has never been open). However, like any other high performance (relatively speaking), you have to do a lot of preventive maintenance. You do need to change the engine seals, belts, the odd gasket and replacing wear pieces such as brake rotors, pads, suspension bushings, shocks and the sometimes an alternator, starter or fuel pump. Given the age of the car, it is to be expected. Regularly replace trans-axle and motor oil with synthetic and both are good for 500,000 miles.
My wife drives a 2005 Altima and my Volvo is faster, brakes better, is more comfortable and much safer. Since it is a wagon, it is extremely practical. To put it in perspective, try driving a 10 year old Jag, Porsche or Mercedes for a while, you will find that running cost is probably much lower with the Volvo.
Love my Volvo and I'm getting a full respray this winter. Will take advantage of very cheap used parts to restore interior as well. It's paid for so I don't mind paying more for preventive maintenance. I would have to pay close to $60,000 Can to get equivalent value today. Further, newer cars are even more complex with almost no possibility of doing some of the work yourself.
Hope this helps.
Yves
Volvo 850 turbo wagon
Porsche 944 turbo
Fiat spider 1980
Nissan Altima 2005.
Hello there folks!!! I am sad to hear negativity about the 850 turbo... I purchased a 94 850 t5 2 years ago, it had 350 000 killometers on it, original motor and tranny. I payed 2000$ for it which I thought was cheap, and now it has 485 000 km, still no oil burning, still good power. And I am 21 years old so I drive it very hard it's seen the ditch and it see's 150 mph whenever I'm in the mood. This is the first volvo I have owned and I have a strong feeling i'll never buy another brand of car again! Excellent vehicle!!!
THings replace in last 2 years. Brakes/rotors
struts/mounts
sway bar endlinks
transmission fluid.
I agree, the Volvo 850 is a pile of junk. My 1991 ford ranger is better then this Volvo. I have spent 3k on it in 2 months. Do not buy them!! I can't wait to dump this hunk of crap!
Bought a "94 850 and in 2 months have had to spend 2K on airconditioner and oil leak problems. Now I'm told the turbo is going out. I orginally thought the timing belt would be my first priority. I am going to get rid of it asap and buy another Honda.
I have a 94 Volvo 850 turbo wagon and this vehicle has been nothing, but trouble for me as well. My wife actually bought this car herself and I'm pretty sure she just liked the looks of it. I also thought the car was the bomb when we first got it in 2001 with only 80000 miles on it. Unfortunately it has been nothing, but trouble.. head gasket, terrible oil leak, leaking sunroof, rattles and numerous check engine light issues. The car currently will not start and I haven't figured out why yet. I think I may have a bad fuel pump or possibly a clogged fuel filter.. either way, more money. I will also get rid of this car as soon as I can, I just can't afford to keep dumping money into it. So far, about $5000 dollars.. and that's just mechanical.. not including tires and such.
Hey all. I'm currently on my second 850 wagon. First one was a standard, and this one a t5. I have a lot of problems with the t5, however. I still love my car, its fast, and fits all my stuff in it.
All in all, I think that volvos reputation preceeds them. They do require a good deal of maintenance (esp the 850's) and most owners just don't keep up with the preventative maintenance that is required of such a vehicle as they feel that it should "last them 300,000 miles, right?". Conversely, most dealers don't even know what to do/look out for when it comes to a used vehicle, as they only really want to deal with new/warranty vehicles.
I made the mistake with my current vehicle when I purchased it by not having it inspected by our local (and independant) volvo repair shop... those guys know what to look out for. Now the tranny is funky, to which all the regular mechanics I've talked to say that it needs to be replaced, however I know that its just a matter of the PnP switch and new fluid... which are things that previous owner probably had no clue as to look out for...
Mine is pushing upwards of 350,000 km now, I am proud to say. I expect to see at least another 100,000. I would recommend to the woman not sure of where to take the car that she take it to someone who specializes in Volvo, if not the dealership. A lot of money can be spent not fixing these cars, or fixing the wrong things.. And to reiterate a previously made point... Stay on top of the preventative maintenance.