1996 Volvo 855 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Volvo 855, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Volvo 855
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seat heater/cooler (seats)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will disconnect the existing wires and install a new electronic thermostat and cable harness. Owner notification began on february 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed…
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Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle housing.
7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Volvo 855 have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 98,100 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The ABS sensor has come on and it is due to the failure of the ABS control unit. This is a vary common and serious failure for the volvo 850 and is a well know to volvo. They offer repair but it is ar”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 12, 2008 · Service brakes, electric
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 11, 2003 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Compare Volvo 855 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo 855 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Volvo 855 | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 Volvo 855 | 2 | 6 |
| 1996 Volvo 855 | 2 | 7 |
| 1997 Volvo 855 | 2 | 3 |
| 2000 Volvo 855 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1996 Volvo 855
How do I know if my 1996 Volvo 855 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Volvo 855; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V314000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volvo models
- XC901,528 complaints
- S601,266 complaints
- S80954 complaints
- V70933 complaints
- XC60651 complaints
- S70593 complaints
- 850569 complaints
- S40491 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.