1997 Volvo 854 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Nov 9, 2010 · 7 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 854 years
Not enough data 2nd of 3 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Volvo 854. That ranks 2nd out of 3 854 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints, 57%), typically at around 91,500 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 1997 Volvo 854 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System4 · ~91,500 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3 · ~64,105 mi
Steering1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System457%91,500——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic343%64,105——
Steering114%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2001, with 2 complaints
1999: 1199912001: 2200122002: 1200212003: 2200322010: 120101

n = 7 complaints · Source: NHTSA

1997 Volvo 854 recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Seats:front assembly:seat heater/coolerNov 19, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V314000 · 65,000 vehicles

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.

Vehicle speed controlOct 11, 1996 · NHTSA campaign 96V199000 · 12,530 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: This condition could prevent the throttle from returning to idle position increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.

Fix: Dealers will replace the throttle housing.

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.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Odometer failure at under 90,000 miles. Original equipment; not tampered with; vehicle never in an accident. *tr

Electrical System · received Nov 9, 2010 · NHTSA complaint 10365181

Tracs and abs warning lights. *nlm

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Jun 19, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10023414

Failure of the anti-lock brake system computer. This seems to be a regular occurrence on the volvo 850. I feel this is a major safety related issue, and a recall investigation should be looked into. *nlm

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Jun 13, 2003 · NHTSA complaint 10023007

My vehicle is a 1997 volvo 850r, i'm the second owner of the vehicle. The volvo is a soild car but the 850 series have a defect with the abs/tracs module, this sets a code on your obdii and it clears when you restart the car. The issue at hand is that it's a safety issue because the control module…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Dec 13, 2002 · NHTSA complaint 10000102

The battery has recharged/replaced multiple times, due to the the electrical system malfunctioning.*yh

Electrical System · received Jul 16, 2001 · NHTSA complaint 562096

Other Volvo 854 years

← 1996 854

YearComplaintsRecalls
199772
1996 85452
1995 85492

See all Volvo 854 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 854?

Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic, steering problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 4 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 1997 Volvo 854?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 1997 Volvo 854 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 854 model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.