Most common 1996 Volvo 855 problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo 855 complaints by model year
Best 855 years: 1997. Compare all years →
1996 Volvo 855 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 1996 Volvo 855:
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 1996 Volvo 855 owners say
Brakes
My '96 Volvo 855 has intermittent ABS failure. The ABS light goes off intermittently. The car has 123,000 miles. After a brief search on the internet I found that this was too common problem with ABS control module. It seems that Volvo does not admit it as a systematic problem and there is no recall campaign (that I know of). Just Volvo dealers making a lot of money to diagnose the problem and installing the new ABS control modules. It is irresponsible to let many Volvo cars with either failing ABS system or charge hundreds for the repair of a badly designed system.
The ABS sensor has come on and it is due to the failure of the ABS control unit. This is a vary common and serious failure for the Volvo 850 and is a well know to Volvo. They offer repair but it is around $900.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Volvo 855 a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 855 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the 855 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 1996 Volvo 855?
The brakes — 4 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the seat belts (1) and air bags (1).
How many recalls does the 1996 Volvo 855 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Volvo 855, 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 855?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997. See the full Volvo 855 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Volvo 855 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 0% 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.