Most common 1997 Volvo 850 problems
Share of the 107 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo 850 complaints by model year
Best 850 years: 1997, 1995. Years to avoid: 1996. Compare all years →
1997 Volvo 850 recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
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.
Remedy: 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.
Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler
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.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlight switch.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1997 Volvo 850:
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
Passenger compartment fires
SEAT FIRES
Volvo is conducting a safety recall based on its analysis of complaints and technical information developed during its investigation.Volvo'ssurvey of vehicles routinely brought in for maintenance at east-coast dealerships produced evidence that bare metal wires (that provide support for the seat bottom) can contact the thermostat and electrical wiresin or beneath the seat cushion.this can result in an electrical…
What 1997 Volvo 850 owners say
Brakes all 33 →
1997 Volvo 850. The ABS and tracs lights are on approx. 90% of the time while driving vehicle. When lights are on, brake pedal is very soft and stopping distance is significantly increased. When lights are off, brake pedal gets firmer after pumping and braking distance is reduced. This problem has gotten progressively worse over the past 24 months. Dealer and independent mechanic were able to determine cause or correct the problem during repeated visits. Ineffective brakes and loss of steering control while braking contributed to a serious accident involving the vehicle and a semi-trailer.
I have a 1997 Volvo 850r that is currently experiencing problems with the ABS/tracs system - the lights came on for the ABS and the tracs system. In researching my problem it has become apparent that the 850 Volvo is known for failures to its ABS module and the entire braking system in general. The amount of information that I have been able to find on this common problem leads me to believe that this should be a recalled item. Apparently Volvo now offers a new and improved ABS control module (that they charge dearly for) because of the numerous problems and replacements of the old units. Volvo should bear the expense of replacing these units. This is clearly a safety issue. When the ABS light is on, the ABS is not functional. The failure also causes intermittent pulsation in the brakes. The shear number of these instances leads me to believe that it is an obvious design flaw. …
Electrical system
Car would not start - appeared to be dead battery - replaced battery - car started, next day car battery dead - jumped battery, car started-2 hours later car battery dead - tested new battery tested OK. Jumped battery took car to Volvo dealer - lawrence motors in walnut creek - took service department 1 day? To diagnose - "wiring harness needs to be replaced at $2,000 cost!! Car to be ready in 3 to 4 weeks (September 1st), then delayed (unknown reasons), delayed to oct 1st, as of todays call oct 6, 2005 was advised car not available until possibly nov 1st. Why would a car with 100,000 miles and 8 years old (always properly serviced) require a new wiring harness? And at such a cost? And why does the part take over 90 days to receive?
1. Loss of acceleration and sometimes stalling during freeway transition from on ramp to freeway and or during left turning against traffic. 2. The car failed to accelerate and the action of pushing the accelerator caused the transmission to down shift causing the extreme slowing and sometimes stalling. The consequences were that traffic was going considerably faster and had to take evasive action to avoid hitting the slowing car. 3. Today the media reported a potential recall of Volvo's due to this problem and I believe it should be extended to 1997 model 850 glt.
Wheels & tires
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 is a common thread and it is time for the NHTSA to investigate. I have now bought six tires in six months to replace the damaged tires. I am still waiting to here if general will replace one under warranty and have another in the trunk of my car that needs to be replaced while I drive around on the spare tire. This should not happen under normal use. Prior to this I have driven approximately 1million miles and have never had to replace a tire due to side wall bubbles.
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. Stopping power is much worse with these new Michelin tires. They squeal easily, even at Volvo's highest recommended air pressure (36psi). I had difficulty stopping from 50mph in an emergency, for the first time in my 17 year ownership of this vehicle. I blame these new "comfort oriented" tires.
1997 Volvo 850 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Volvo 850 a good car?
Based on 107 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 850 rates average: 30% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 850 at the same age. It is one of the best 850 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Volvo 850?
The brakes — 33 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the electrical system (13) and wheels & tires (11).
How many recalls does the 1997 Volvo 850 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1997 Volvo 850, the most recent from July 30, 2004 (storage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo 850?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996. See the full Volvo 850 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Volvo 850 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.