1996 Volvo 855 Problems
- Complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 98,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Volvo 855 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1996 Volvo 855. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (57% of the total), followed by air bags (1) and seat belts (1). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 98,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 7 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes4 57%
- Air bags1 14%
- Seat belts1 14%
- Tires1 14%
Example complaints
Brakes: “My '96 Volvo 855 has intermittent ABS failure. The ABS light goes off intermittently. The car has 123,000 miles. After a brief search on the internet I found that this was too common problem with ABS control module. It seems that Volvo does not admit it as a systematic problem and there is no recall campaign (that I know of). Just Volvo dealers making a lot of money to diagnose the problem and installing the new ABS control modules. It is irresponsible to let many Volvo cars with either failing ABS system or charge hundreds for the repair of a badly designed system.”
NHTSA complaint #10041632, filed 2003-10, 123,000 milesAir bags: “In the first accident the subject vehicle was stopped and rear ended at approximately 50 MPH and driven in the rear of another vehicle. The subject vehicle sustained 13000 dollars damage to the front end and to the rear. The airbags ( both front and side, did not deploy). One year later the same subject vehicle was involved in a second near head on collision and the air bags (both) failed to deploy again. In both crashes technical representatives from Volvo inspected the vehicle and stated the airbags were not supposed to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #716451, filed 1999-12Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 73,300 and 123,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 02V314000Nov 19, 2002Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/coolerCovers: Volvo 855 1996–1997, 850 1996–1997, 854 1996–1997
On some sedans and station wagons equipped with seat heaters, it is possible that excessive compression of the seat cushion could cause damage to the electrical wiring of the seat heater.
- 96V199000Oct 11, 1996Vehicle speed controlCovers: Volvo 855 1996–1997, 854 1996–1997, 964 1996–1997 +1 more
The screws which attach the throttle plate to its axle (shaft) can loosen allowing the throttle plate to come in contact with the throttle housing.
Recall details for the 1996 Volvo 855 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 7 on record; the latest 7 are shown.
- 10241661Jul 21, 2023Electronic stability control, Other or unknown. Complimentary upgrade c00009 description.
- 10241651Jun 12, 2023Other or unknown. Rubber cushion
- 10213885May 12, 2022Other or unknown. The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.
- 10213883May 6, 2022Equipment, Other or unknown. ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations
- 10212891Feb 9, 2022Equipment. VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
- 10212892Feb 3, 2022Equipment, Electrical system. Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
- 10213882Jun 23, 2020Electrical system, Other or unknown. Battery Charger/maintainer requirement
Other model years of the Volvo 855
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 7 | 98,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Volvo 855 have?
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1996 Volvo 855 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1996 Volvo 855 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (57% of the total), followed by air bags with 1.
Has the 1996 Volvo 855 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Volvo 855 reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 98,000 miles and the middle half falls between 73,300 and 123,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.