Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Volvo 850, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system12
- Fuel system, gasoline11
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Air bags7
- Power train7
- Equipment7
- Seats6
- Tires6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Visibility6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 10 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1994 Volvo 850 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.3 petrol (166 kW, 223 hp), 2.4 petrol (106 kW, 142 hp) and 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 petrol | 166 kW 223 hp | 199 |
| 2.4 petrol | 106 kW 142 hp | 117 |
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 100 |
| 2.0 petrol | 155 kW 208 hp | 33 |
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
483 first registered in 1994 are on Dutch roads; 33% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde131
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen92
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af57
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)54
- Band onvoldoende profiel47
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld45
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan37
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht35
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
138 cars built in 1994 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 327 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
174 of these cars first registered in 1994 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 323,000 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
25 1994 cars are on the New Zealand register; 76% arrived as used imports, 24% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
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.
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 1994 Volvo 850: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621850 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REPAIR THE TAILGATE PANEL ATTACHMENTS. *TT |
| 618498 | INFORMATION ON REPAIRING THE TAILGATE PANEL ATTACHMENTS. *TT |
| 615901 | SUBJECT PERTAINS TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TT |
| 613429 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES INDICATING MISFIRES AND / OR A HARD ENGINE START CONDITION. *TT |
| 612378 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW FUEL TANK WITH INTEGRATED ROLL-OVER VALVE. *MJS |
| 610595 | INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPAIR THE TAILGATE PANEL ATTACHMENTS. *TT |
| 610589 | INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES ON REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. *TT |
| 610390 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO INSTALL THE NEW STYLE FUEL SENDING UNIT. *TT |
| 6089504 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. *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 |
| 608294 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO INSTALL A NIPPLE TO THE DRAINAGE HOLE IN THE INTERCOOLER. *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 |
| 608043 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLOOR / DEFROSTER SHUTTER IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AIR DISTRIBUTOR. *TT |
| 607362 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. *TT |
| 606583 | INFORMATION ON HOW TO INSTALL A NIPPLE IN THE INTERCOOLER. *TT |
| 605938 | INFORMATION DESCRIBING HOW TO REPLACE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND ALTERNATOR CABLE SEPARATELY. *TT |
| 604278 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR TRANSMISSION COVER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 603368 | CHECKING AND ADJUSTING BOOST PRESSURE CONTROL ( BPC ) VALVE ON THE TURBOCHARGER. *YC |
| 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 |
| 50587 | REPAIR OF WOOD VENEER ON DASHBOARD. *TW |
| 46380 | A SWITCH WITH REPLACEABLE ILLUMINATION BULB IS BEING INTRODUCED INTO PRODUCTION. IF THERE IS A FAULT IN THE ILLUMINATION BULB THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED - NOT THE SWITCH. |
| 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. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL TANK LEAKS
FUEL TANK LEAKS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation