Most common 1997 Volvo 854 problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo 854 complaints by model year
Best 854 years: 1996. Compare all years →
1997 Volvo 854 recalls (2)
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.
Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the throttle housing.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Volvo 854:
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 854 owners say
Electrical system
Odometer failure at under 90,000 miles. Original equipment; not tampered with; vehicle never in an accident.
The vehicle would not start at 3000 miles after purchase because the battery was dead. The problem continued every 5000 miles until the dealer discovered that the cause was electrical problem.
Brakes
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 sees a fault and deactivates the ABS/tracs control module and you no longer have an ABS on the vehicle and it's very dangerous if it's raining, snowing or a sudden stop on the freeway. The wheels will lock giving you a greater chance to cause an accident. So far I've been lucky, I spoke to the Volvo dealer directly to see if they can change this unit under the Volvo vip warranty and I was told that it was not covered and the new unit cost around $600.00 without labor. …
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Volvo 854 a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 854 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the 854 at the same age. 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 854?
The electrical system — 4 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the brakes (3) and steering (1).
How many recalls does the 1997 Volvo 854 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1997 Volvo 854, the most recent from November 19, 2002 (seat heater/cooler). 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 854?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996. See the full Volvo 854 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Volvo 854 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 88,000 miles; 33% 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.