Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1993 Volvo 850, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train28
- Air bags10
- Electrical system9
- Equipment7
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Structure6
- Steering5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Seat belts2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1993 Volvo 850 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp) and 2.4 petrol (106 kW, 142 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 98 |
| 2.4 petrol | 106 kW 142 hp | 45 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
165 first registered in 1993 are on Dutch roads; 27% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde46
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen40
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af17
- Band onvoldoende profiel16
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect15
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)15
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht15
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt14
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
42 cars built in 1993 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 141 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
45 of these cars first registered in 1993 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 324,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
8 1993 cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports, 25% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1993 Volvo 850.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 1993 Volvo 850: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 618496 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES AN UPDATED METHOD FOR CONNECTING THE QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTORS IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FOR VARIOUS VEHICLES STARTING FROM MODEL YEAR 1993. *TT |
| 615901 | SUBJECT PERTAINS TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TT |
| 612378 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW FUEL TANK WITH INTEGRATED ROLL-OVER VALVE. *MJS |
| 610589 | INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES ON REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. *TT |
| 6089468 | BULLETIN DESCRIBING HOW TO CORRECT CONDITION OF OIL LEAKAGE OCCURRING AT ONE OR MORE OF THE OIL PUMP RETAINING SCREWS. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACES THE PREVIOUS SB21-0023 DATED OCTOBER 1999. *TT |
| 608292 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS OF CASES WHERE TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 313 (GEAR SHIFT POSITION SENSOR) REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. *TT |
| 608252 | SERVICE BULLETIN CONTAINING INFORMATION ON HOW TO REMOVE THE BALL JOINT FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TT |
| 608251 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REPLACE THE FEUL PUMP ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. *TT |
| 608045 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING NEW STYLE WINDSHIELD WITH INTEGRATED UPPER TRIM MOLDING. *TT |
| 608043 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLOOR / DEFROSTER SHUTTER IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AIR DISTRIBUTOR. *TT |
| 607919 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE OIL DRIPPING FROM ONE OR ALL OF THE THREE SCREWS AT THE FRONT EDGE OF THE OIL PAN. *TT |
| 606232 | SOME VEHICLES OIL MAY DRIP FROM ONE OR ALL OF THE THREE SCREWS AT THE FRONT EDGE OF THE OIL PAN. *TT |
| 605938 | INFORMATION DESCRIBING HOW TO REPLACE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND ALTERNATOR CABLE SEPARATELY. *TT |
| 602664 | INFORMATION DESCRIBES HOW THE SERVICE MANUALS SHOULD BE UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION. *YC |
| 601967 | MODIFYING DOOR INNER PANEL WHEN REPLACING. *YC |
| 601713 | REPLACING CONNECTOR FOR CRANKCASE VENTILATION, WITH THE B5234T ENGINE. *YC |
| 51011 | REPLACING PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER. *TW |
| 50587 | REPAIR OF WOOD VENEER ON DASHBOARD. *TW |
| 46379 | A NEW AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT BELT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO PRODUCTION FOR THE 850 WITH A/C FROM ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER 564663. |
| 46374 | SERVICE BULLETIN SUPERSEDES SB 36-809 DATED DEC. 1994. A REVISED SETTING OF THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR LINK ARM HAS BEEN INTRODUCED ON PRODUCTION FROM VIN 854-166000, 855-70000. WHEN A WIPER MOTOR IS REPLACED ON ANY 850 THE NEW MOTOR SHOULD BE SET ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING INSTUCTIONS. THE REVISED SETTING PARKS THE MOTOR ARMATURE IN THE OPTIMUM POSITION CARBON BUILD UP AND EXTENDING MOTOR LIFE. |
| 44009 | NEW EXTENTION PIECE FOR RIGHT FENDER LINER. *TW |
| 44005 | UNKNOWN |
| 40061 | NEW EXTENTION PIECE FOR RIGHT FENDER LINER. *TW |
| 40060 | NEW COMBINED INSTRUMENT, VDO TYPE. *TW |
| 40037 | MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 69B - AN IMPROVED MATERIAL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED FOR THE RUBBER CONNECTION PIECES IN THE CRANKCASE SYSTEM WHICH PREVENTS POSSIBLE CRACKING AND LEAKAGE. THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION HOSE WILL BE REPLACED. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL TANK LEAKS
FUEL TANK LEAKS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation