1997 Volvo 850 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 850 years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Volvo 850. That ranks 3rd out of 6 850 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (25 complaints, 23%), typically at around 74,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 7 fires, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 107owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Volvo 850 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 25 | 23% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 13 | 12% | 86,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 10 | 9% | 31,900 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 8% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 8 | 7% | 57,183 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 7% | 102,450 | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 7% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 6% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 6% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 6% | 127,700 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 6% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 6% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4% | 127,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% | 93,850 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | 128,500 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 102,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 225,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | 102,400 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Volvo 850 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, after prolonged exposure to heat, the fuel tank may seep or leak fuel at the points where the heat shield is attached.
Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Volvo will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if any evidence of fuel seepage or leakage is found. All vehicles will receive new reinforcement bushings at the heat shield attachment points to prevent future leaks. This recall will be conducted as a safety recall in the hot weather states of alabama, arkansas, arizona, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, and utah, and as a service recall in the other 33 states and the district of columbia. The recall began on september 24, 2004. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this occurs, the damage could result in a short circuit that could cause a fire.
Fix: 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 upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.
Risk: Driver's could experience a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the headlight switch.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Seat fires (EA02019) — opened Aug 22, 2002, closed Dec 18, 2002, led to recall 02V314000.
- Passenger compartment fires (PE02029) — opened Mar 7, 2002, closed Aug 22, 2002.
- Inadvertent side air bag deployment (PE99040) — opened Jun 7, 1999, closed Oct 27, 1999.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Similar to nhtsa id number: 10365806. When fuel tank is filled completely, there is a strong odor of fuel outside the vehicle and some fuel odor in the trunk. No odor when tank is only partially full, e.g., 80% full. Odor noticed when vehicle stationary. No odor in passenger compartment. Issue…
General altimax rt43. I had 4 tires in less than 6 months and 6,000 miles develop side wall bubbles caused by tire play separation and bands breaking. I tire hade been replaced and it developed a bubble in less than a month. No hard driving on the car and no potholes or railroad track impacts. This…
The tire dealer recommended michelin primacy mxv4 as a replacement tire for my 1997 volvo 850 (normally aspirated) sedan. The michelin website described this tire as an "acceptable substitute" for the tires specified by volvo because michelin no longer offers high performance tires in my size…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 volvo 850. The contact stated when fuel was dispensed into the fuel tank to the full capacity level, she would smell a strong odor of fuel inside and outside of the vehicle. In addition, there would be fuel leakage on the ground underneath the fuel tank. The fuel was…
Unintended acceleration. Car in normal drive, just starts to accelerate. Also sometimes engine races while in park or idle for no reason. Occurs randomly, but has been recurring daily for two weeks. Haven't taken to dealer yet. *tr
Other Volvo 850 years
See all Volvo 850 problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.
Similar Volvo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Volvo 850?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, seats problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 25 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Volvo 850?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Volvo 850 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 850 model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.