1997 Volvo 850 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 89 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 33.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 7.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 8 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module | 6 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 3 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 8; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 7; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module: 6; Tires: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 46 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 8; 2001: 7; 2002: 20; 2003: 21; 2004: 12; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2014: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003214 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
I OWN A 1997 VOLVO 850 GLT. IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS COMPUTER, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I GOT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK IT IN WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH 10,000 MILES REMAINING ON THE WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND SEVERAL CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN I BOUGHT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BUT IS COVERED NOW, FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003367 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE ON 1997 VOLVO 850 T5
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020915 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)
I HAVE BEEN GETTING BURNED OUT LIGHT BULBS IN MY 1997 VOLVO FOR A LONG TIME AND EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALER I MENTIONED TO THEM AND THEY REPLACED BURNED BULBS AND I MENTIONED TO THEM TO CHECK ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THAT CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. THEIR ANSWERED WAS IT IS OKEY. I WONDER IF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM FROM ANY OTHER OWNER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029382 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
PRIOR TO BEING NOTIFIED FOR THE ELECTRICAL SEAT HEATER, RECALL 02 V 314 000, THE DEFECT ACCRUED AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028994 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
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 SERIOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,364 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055547 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE IN USE. THE ARM FELL OFF. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174142 · 2006-11-24 (November 24, 2006)
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 EXTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567844 · 2002-11-05 (November 5, 2002)
THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHTS . *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087496 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH. AS THE CONSUMER HAD TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE INTO NETTLE IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED BY THE DEALER THAT IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL INJECTOR COVER CAME LOOSE AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE OPEN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365806 · 2010-11-15 (November 15, 2010)
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 DISPENSED TO THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK TO AVOID THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V368000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 869541 · 2000-09-05 (September 5, 2000)
BOTH VEHICLES ARE THE SAME MODELS AND YEARS, BUT ONE VEHICLE IS A SEDAN, AND THE OTHER IS WAGON, # [XXX], WHILE DRIVING OVER LARGE PUDDLES WATER ENTERED POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. IT USUALLY LASTED UP TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK DRIVING IN RAIN OR LARGE PUDDLES CAUSE THE BELT TO SLIP ON THE PULLEYS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COMING ON. *YH INFORMATION REDA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 869541 at NHTSA ↗