The 1997 Volvo 850 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 430,588 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
Consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
VOLVO WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE IT IF ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL SEEPAGE OR LEAKAGE IS FOUND. ALL VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE NEW REINFORCEMENT BUSHINGS AT THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO PREVENT FUTURE LEAKS. THIS RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED AS A SAFETY RECALL IN THE HOT WEATHER STATES OF ALABAMA, ARKANSAS,…
SEATS02V3140002002-11-1965,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT THE EXISTING WIRES AND INSTALL A NEW ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT AND CABLE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Consequence
DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
9
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
8
6fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
8
1crashes1injuries
TIRES
8
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
3
Total complaints142
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“General altimax rt43. I had 4 tires in less than 6 months and 6,000 miles develop side wall bubbles caused by tire play separation and bands breaking. I tire hade been replaced and it developed a bubble in less than a month. No hard driving on the car and no potholes or railroad track impacts.…”
“The tire dealer recommended michelin primacy mxv4 as a replacement tire for my 1997 volvo 850 (normally aspirated) sedan. The michelin website described this tire as an "acceptable substitute" for the tires specified by volvo because michelin no longer offers high performance tires in my size.…”
“Unintended acceleration. Car in normal drive, just starts to accelerate. Also sometimes engine races while in park or idle for no reason. Occurs randomly, but has been recurring daily for two weeks. Haven't taken to dealer yet. *tr”
“Unintended acceleration. Car in normal drive, just starts to accelerate. Also sometimes engine races while in park or idle for no reason. Occurs randomly, but has been recurring daily for two weeks. Haven't taken to dealer yet. *tr”
“Similar to nhtsa id number: 10365806. When fuel tank is filled completely, there is a strong odor of fuel outside the vehicle and some fuel odor in the trunk. No odor when tank is only partially full, e.g., 80% full. Odor noticed when vehicle stationary. No odor in passenger compartment. Issue…”
“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…”
“My daughter used family car, volvo 1997, 850 wagon and the accelerator failed wide open. She narrowly missed 5 young children playing street hockey. Car is inoperable and must be towed to service station for evaluation and repair. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 volvo 850 wagon. The vehicle was taken to a service station for tire repair and the following failures were discovered: both rear brakes and calipers were seized and completely inoperable, the emergency brake was also inoperable, and both front inner and outer tie rods…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02019 Opened 2002-08-22 · closed 2002-12-18
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…
InvestigationEA02019 Opened 2002-08-22 · closed 2002-12-18
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…
InvestigationPE02029 Opened 2002-03-07 · closed 2002-08-22
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRES
InvestigationPE99040 Opened 1999-06-07 · closed 1999-10-27
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Volvo 850 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.