Similar to the federal safety agency 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 ongoing for roughly last 7 years (not sure). No dripping fuel observed. Leak may be at fuel pump quick-disconnect fittings. Leak may have started as a result of evap system repair in late 2009--not sure. Dealer claimed to have fixed leak at fuel pump fittings in 2011, but odor issue persists if tank completely full. No check engine light issues since 2011. I avoid filling tank completely to avoid odor. If I inadvertently fill tank completely, odor returns. "when did this happen" date I entered is just a rough guess of when the issue started. Vehicle is stored outdoors and driven infrequently, ~ once per week average. Odor is easily noticeable outdoors when tank is completely full.
The worst 1997 Volvo 850 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes33
- Electrical13
- Seats10
- Tires9
- Lights8
- Seat belts7
- Visibility7
- Acceleration6
- Engine6
- Steering6
- Transmission6
- Fuel system5
- Suspension4
- Body3
- Airbags2
- Wheels2
- Driver assistance1
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Volvo 850
Recalls 3
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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, arizona, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, and utah, and as a service recall in the other 33 states and the district of columbia. The recall began on september 24, 2004. Owners may contact volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552.
Recall number 04V368000 · Recall details
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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 at 1‑800‑458‑1552.
Recall number 02V314000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.
- Risk
- Driver's could experience a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the headlight switch.
Recall number 99V235000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1997 Volvo 850
Defect investigations
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 short.volvo confirmed in testing that if such a condition is present, the short to the wire seat support could cause burning of the seat cushion without activating (opening) the seat heater fuse.volvo will replace the entire thermostat assembly with an electronic timer delay unit.
EA02019
Passenger compartment fires
PE02029
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
PE99040
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Volvo 850 138
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Complimentary upgrade C00009 description.
- Rubber cushion
- The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as...
- ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations
- Vida qr
- Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
- Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly...
- This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder
- Battery Charger/maintainer requirement
- Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : Service Action Notification Re
1997 Volvo 850 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 24-26 | 20-21 |
| 2.3L 5‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 24 | 19 |
What 1997 Volvo 850 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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. This is a common thread and it is time for the federal safety agency to investigate. I have now bought six tires in six months to replace the damaged tires. I am still waiting to here if general will replace one under warranty and have another in the trunk of my car that needs to be replaced while I drive around on the spare tire. This should not happen under normal use. Prior to this I have driven approximately 1million miles and have never had to replace a tire due to side wall bubbles.
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. Stopping power is much worse with these new michelin tires. They squeal easily, even at volvo's highest recommended air pressure (36psi). I had difficulty stopping from 50mph in an emergency, for the first time in my 17 year ownership of this vehicle. I blame these new "comfort oriented" tires.
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 the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v368000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage). The VIN was not included in the recall defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.
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.
In a parking garage I turned my wheels towards the left to drive into a parking spot; I gave the car a little gas while driving over a speedbump and suddenly the car accelerated and shot forward at a high rate of speed. Thankfully the car went into that parking spot and hit the cement wall and stopped. I thought it was a one-time occurrence but with all the reports of toyota acceleration problems, now I wonder if this can occur in any car at any time. I have a 1997 volvo station wagon. With speed bumps on many streets near schools, if this can happen on almost any car, then the potential for major accidents is unlimited. I will always keep my foot on the brake pedal while going over any speed bump from now on, and am just thankful that I was just a couple of feet from a cement wall and had already turned my wheels. For those reasons, no damage was done to either the wall, my car or the occupants. (in the mileage and speed info. On this form I can only guess at the mileage at the time of incident and the speed at which the car accelerated.)
Abs module failed. Looks like major dealer repair. This is a major component of the vehicle and should be treated as such and no longer treated as an accessory item. For these devices to be considered an "accessory" they should then be made as user replaceable which is not the case. Then again, is it a good idea to have every sunday-mechanic replacing such a critical item? I have had an ABS warning light for over two years now. Diagnostics say its the ABS electronics. I do not have the budget or experience to replace it. Several websites point to failing or defective capacitors on the electronic module itself.
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.
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 needed to be replaced. The estimated repair cost was $1,230. The volvo dealer diagnosed the following failures: both front lower control arms and the driver side tie rods failed, an alignment was needed, the front and rear brakes failed, including the rotor and calipers, and there was an emissions issue as well. The vehicle needs complete emission repair. The vehicle was purchased on june 21, 2008 and passed inspection on june 25, 2008. The failure mileage was 127,700.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 volvo 850. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The tread then began to separate from the tire and continuously struck the fender of the vehicle. The fender, passenger side door, and rocker panel were damaged. The contact has not notified the tire manufacturer. The VIN, purchase date, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 240,000.
Compare the 1997 Volvo 850
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Questions about the 1997 Volvo 850
Is the 1997 Volvo 850 reliable?
Owners have filed 107 complaints about the 1997 Volvo 850, 1.3 times a typical 850 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Volvo 850?
Brakes, with 33 complaints, typically around 64,000 miles. Next is electrical (13).
How many recalls does the 1997 Volvo 850 have?
3 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline, seats and exterior lighting.
What year does the Volvo 850 have bad brakes?
The Volvo 850 model years with the most brakes complaints are 1996 (55 complaints), 1997 (33 complaints) and 1995 (11 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Volvo 850 get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Volvo 850 range from 19 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 5-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 24-26 highway.
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