1996 Volvo 8 Series service brakes, hydraulic problems

“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 - *TR”

“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.”

“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. *AK”

“WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ABS PUMP MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK”

“WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND REMAINED ON. FOLLOWING THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULAR UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK”

“1996 VOLVO 850'S ARE PLAGUED WITH REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURES WHICH CAUSE OIL TO LEAK ONTO CLUTCHES AS WELL AS ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRES. 1996 VOLVO 850'S ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURES IN THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO OPERATE AT TIMES. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER MODULE. VOLVO 850'S ARE ALSO PLAGUED WITH POOR DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DESIGNS THAT RESULT IN A LARGE PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD NOT BEING SWEPT BY THE WIPER, WASHER NOZZLES RETURN VALVES ALSO FAIL FREQUENTLY, PREVENTING WASHER FLUID FROM RECAHING THE WINDSHIELD.”