general problems of the 1996 Volvo 850

Runaway accelerator ? on entering interstate, I quickly realized that the accelerator was locked into the floored position. I had a runaway situation with traffic. I was unable to slow the car or release the accelerator. Fortunately, I had the knowledge and sense to slow the car. Pumping the brakes did not help. I managed to hold the brakes while downshifting into the low and then lowest gear in automatic transmission. I managed to negotiate the car toward the shoulder and eventually threw the transmission into the park gear. The car jolted, then stopped. This was a life threatening situation for me and others on the road.

Odometer/speedometer does not work, v this problem appears to be a flaw in Volvo's manufacturing. Consumer wants name and concern shared with Volvo. Consumer states Volvo knows of this widespread era in their cars. On may 18th 2005 consumer sent a letter to Volvo about the odometer problem, along with a follow up letter on June 9th 2005. Consumer states that failure is due to a small plastic gear in the speedometer.

While driving approx. 45 mph the car begin to race, as though it were stuck in gear, I applied my brakes, but they did not respond. The car continued to accelete (up hill) on it's own. I attempted to apply the brakes, but to no avail, the car continued to accelerate. I steered the car to jump a curb and applied the emergency brake, the car continued to accelerate. I was no longer in control of the car, so I took off my seat belt and ejected from the car. The car went head on into a truck and was subsequently totalled.