1997 Volvo 850 problems
NHTSA has received 142 complaints about the 1997 Volvo 850, and 24% of them involve brakes. Next are electrical system (11%) and seats (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 142 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 53 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 12 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Of the 53 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 90,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 64,000 miles (19 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Volvo 850 with enough data (52 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
Heated seat caught on fire; fire was put out by fire extinguisher from restaurant by which vehicle was stopped; fire damaged the seat, driver's side door, steering column, front dash and steering wheel. Carpeting of the vehicle was also damaged, and other damage to the electrical system, arm rest, etc may have occured. Problem has been reported to volvo and they are sending out an inspector to examine the car on 10/25/00.
Fire erupted under the driver's seat filling the vehicle with smoke very quickly, this vehicle was delivered from europe therefore a fire extinguisher came as standard equipment with the vehicle, the consumer believes the vehicle sustained little damage because the fire extinguisher was available and thinks they should be standard equipment in u.s. Vehicles also. Nlm
Driver's seat heater did not operate. Front passenger's side seat heater was repaired under recall 02v314000, but consumer must pay to get the driver's seat repaired.
While driving 50 MPH vehicle accelerated to 75 MPH. As the consumer had to engage the vehicle into nettle in order to stop. It was later determined by the dealer that improper installation of the fuel injector cover came loose and jammed the throttle open.