1997 Volvo 850: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 142 complaints
142
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

58,000 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
125,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
9
TIRES
8
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
8
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
8
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING, BLINKERS DO NOT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND DASHBOARD LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON TO WARN HER THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. CAUSE UNKNOWN, *AKTOOK TO DEALER TO CHECK AND REPAIR. RESULT, TAKING TO DEALER TO CHECK AND REPAIR."
"VEHICLE HAD WRONG SIZE/TYPE OF TIRES. THE TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE DESIGNED FOR ON RACETRACK DRIVING. *AK"
"OWNER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AND THAT DEALERS HAVE REPLACED RACK & PINION BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28