Sad story. The fuel pressure regulator diaphram failed, pouring fuel into the intake via the vacuum line. Cylinder 5 sucked in enough liquid to prevent full piston travel and bent the connecting rod. Lower connecting rod punched a hole in the bottom of the cylinder liner. Engine could run without power but made horrible clanking noise. End of that engine. Replaced with low-mileage used engine; total parts cost over $2000 not counting my labor.

Other 850 problems: automatic transmission failed at 160k ($2700), flaky A/C, roof rail trim peeled off while on vacation, side molding just popped off, crowded engine compartment, wide turning radius, front wheel drive understeer. All of this while strictly adhering to Volvo 850 maintenance schedules. But the wife loves the car (it was a gift from her parents), so I keep fixing it.

Badmouth the 240s and 740s all you want, but the fact remains that those cars are reliable, maintainable, economical, and long-lived. The 850 looks sharp and drives fast, but the only characteristic it shares with my 240, 740, and 760 is the Volvo name.

I will never buy another Volvo 5-cylinder car.
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-- Bruce / '82 244 (315k miles!), '86 745, '87 760Ti, '94 854