Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Volvo 850, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic25
- Electrical system13
- Seats10
- Tires9
- Service brakes, air8
- Visibility7
- Seat belts7
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Steering6
- Exterior lighting6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
103 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 41% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €60,814.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde59
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen41
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan35
- Band onvoldoende profiel32
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af32
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt16
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling15
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)15
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
103 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 175 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
93 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 347,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
21 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 52% arrived as used imports, 48% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 11 variants: combined 11.3–12.4 L/100 km (about 19–21 mpg US), CO₂ 260–285 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 850 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.0 | 11.3 |
| 850 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.0 | 11.3 |
| 850 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.0 | 11.4 |
| 850 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.0 | 11.4 |
| 850 GLT · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.5 | 9.6 | 11.8 |
| 850 GLT Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.5 | 9.6 | 11.8 |
| 850 T5 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.8 | 9.9 | 12.1 |
| 850 T5 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.8 | 9.9 | 12.1 |
| 850 AWD Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.8 | 10.2 | 12.2 |
| 850 T5 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.4 | 9.9 | 12.4 |
| 850 T5 Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.4 | 9.9 | 12.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 1997 Volvo 850: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 629014 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SERVICE MANUAL TP2321201. *TT |
| 621850 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REPAIR THE TAILGATE PANEL ATTACHMENTS. *TT |
| 618498 | INFORMATION ON REPAIRING THE TAILGATE PANEL ATTACHMENTS. *TT |
| 616755 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN CONTAINS INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM IS NOT DAMAGED WHEN SERVICING WHEELS AND TIRES. IT ALSO CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT CHECKING THE FREEWHEEL AND VISCOUS COUPLING FOR THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615901 | SUBJECT PERTAINS TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TT |
| 612378 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW FUEL TANK WITH INTEGRATED ROLL-OVER VALVE. *MJS |
| 610595 | INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPAIR THE TAILGATE PANEL ATTACHMENTS. *TT |
| 610592 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW DRIVE SHAFT NUT. *TT |
| 610589 | INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES ON REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. *TT |
| 610588 | SUBJECT REGARDING NEW ROUTING OF WIRING FOR OXYGEN SENSOR. *TT |
| 610436 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE (FINAL DRIVE) BETWEEN 80 AND 95 KM/H (50 - 60 MPH). *TT |
| 610418 | EXPERIENCING A WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR AXLE (FINAL DRIVE) BETWEEN 80 AND 120 KM/H (50-75 MPH). *TT |
| 609628 | AWD AND XC PRODUCED FROM 1/98, THE REAR AXLE FIXTURE FAILED. YD |
| 6089472 | INFORMATION DESCRIBING HOW TO REPLACE THE HOSE BETWEEN THE ROLL-OVER VALVE AND THE CANISTER. *TT |
| 6089470 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REPLACE THE Y-FITTING ON THE FUEL TANK. *TT |
| 6089468 | BULLETIN DESCRIBING HOW TO CORRECT CONDITION OF OIL LEAKAGE OCCURRING AT ONE OR MORE OF THE OIL PUMP RETAINING SCREWS. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACES THE PREVIOUS SB21-0023 DATED OCTOBER 1999. *TT |
| 608294 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO INSTALL A NIPPLE TO THE DRAINAGE HOLE IN THE INTERCOOLER. *TT |
| 608292 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS OF CASES WHERE TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 313 (GEAR SHIFT POSITION SENSOR) REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. *TT |
| 608283 | AS A RUNNING CHANGE IN PRODUCTION, A NEW TYPE OF BRAKE HOSE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO INSTALL THE NEW TYPE BRAKE HOSE ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AWD. *TT |
| 608043 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLOOR / DEFROSTER SHUTTER IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AIR DISTRIBUTOR. *TT |
| 607363 | INFORMATION REGARDNG PULSED SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 607362 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. *TT |
| 606583 | INFORMATION ON HOW TO INSTALL A NIPPLE IN THE INTERCOOLER. *TT |
| 606269 | SUBJECT REGARDING NEW ROUTING OF WIRING FOR OXYGEN SENSORS. *TT |
| 605965 | INFORMATION DESCRIBING HOW TO INSTALL A DAMPER ON THE DRIVE SHAFT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SEAT FIRES
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRES
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation