I have a 1996 volvo 850 turbo station wagon. It has only 41,000 miles but the ABS light would come on and off. I am told this is a common problem for the car. Volvo claims it is one of the safest car on the road and quite reliable. I disagree. Pls. Ask volvo to issue a recall as this is annoying and could prove to be dangerous.
Volvo 850 abs comes on
67 of the 569 owner complaints about the Volvo 850 describe aBS light or ABS activating, most of them for the 1996 model year.
- owner complaints
- 67
- worst model year
- 1996
- typical repair cost reported
- $700
- typical mileage
- 74,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
Brake failure 4Wipers 3Check engine light 2Spongy pedal 1Slipping 1Power steering loss 1Oil consumption 1Headlights 1
What owners say
Abs module failed. Looks like major dealer repair. This is a major component of the vehicle and should be treated as such and no longer treated as an accessory item. For these devices to be considered an "accessory" they should then be made as user replaceable which is not the case. Then again, is it a good idea to have every sunday-mechanic replacing such a critical item? I have had an ABS warning light for over two years now. Diagnostics say its the ABS electronics. I do not have the budget or experience to replace it. Several websites point to failing or defective capacitors on the electronic module itself.
1996 volvo 850 - ABS light intermittent - not sure if ABS is working or not - told by volvo repair specialists that this is a common occurrence on the 96 & 97 models - also told that ABS computer has tendency to burn out relatively quickly on this model & year - told to go ahead and replace it - again - had it replaced less than 4 years ago -
1996 volvo 850 ABS light intermittent not sure if ABS is working or not comes and goes.
Heat generated in the engine compartment causes ABS control module and traction control module to fail in my '96 volvo 850r. As of today, there's 3 modules already replaced (each costing $800). The dealer said that the control module fails because it's not designed by the manufacturer to withstand typical engine heat. The chatroom of volvo owners (www.brickboard.com) is filled with the same complaint from various model years. The failure of the braking system is especially dangerous since the failure causes intermittent braking capability and hazardous during winter/snowy road conditions. The failure is sudden and without warning.
Dt: the contact stated vehicle was leaking oil but he was unsure where it was coming from. The dealership suggested changing the master cylinder and it was changed at a local service station, however the leak continued. The contact claimed the leak was coming from the ABS. The module was changed, the leak stopped and the brakes worked properly. He then received the federal safety agency recall 04v368000 concerning the fuel system. Recall repair was performed but there was still a smell of fuel. This happened with the windows up or down. The check engine light was came on. Upon inspection at the dealership the computer found the air mass flow meter was not working properly. This caused the vehicle to idle rougher and not run smoothly. The air mass flow meter has been replaced four times by the dealership. The check engine light was still on. *ak updated 12/27/2005.
. I have spent $2200 in the last 3 months while herb gordon tries to figure out the problem with the brakes. They have replaced the brake master cylinder, cleaned and resealed the brake calipers and now as a last resort are replacing the internal ABS system, which finally fixed the problem. Ignition switch replaced, the windshield wiper bolts came loose causing the windshield wipers to stop in the middle of driving on a highway in the rain, air sensors and oxygen sensors seem to need replacing at least twice a year.
Abs control unit failure on 96 volvo 850 with just over 60,000 miles on it. Abs light comes on due to failure in unit. Failure is a result of cracks that develop in circuit board. Abs fails & is no longer operable leading to hazardous braking condition. This is a common & well known issue on 850 volvo's. Internet message boards and volvo repair specialists and members of volvo community all know that ABS light coming on means 90% chance total failure of unit is involved. Repair cost is prohibitive. Replacement of defective unit is $650 to $900.00.
Abs control module failure on 1987 volvo 850
After starting the vehicle the ABS warning light illuminated and stayed on until the vehicle was shut off. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Volvo 850 abs
Why does the abs come on in the Volvo 850?
Owners who report it most often also describe brake failure, windshield wiper failure and check engine light.
Which Volvo 850 years have aBS light or ABS activating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1996 (34 complaints), 1997 (26 complaints) and 1994 (4 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix ABS light or ABS activating on the Volvo 850?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $700 (median of 14 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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