IllustrationSEAT BELT RETRATOR ON BACK PASSENGER SEAT IS STUCK. THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE USED.
1997 Volvo 850
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Volvo 850 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 850 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
425–50K
1450–75K
475–100K
13100–150K
7150K+
43 reports with mileage · 64 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports6 fire reports2 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
7 reportsINTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT BROKE APART AT HINGE LINKING SEAT TO SEAT-BACK (SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED, BUT ONLY TO HOLD THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT IN PLACE). THE METAL HINGE BROKE INTO 4 PIECES AND COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT/BACK. THE SEAT WAS USED BY ONLY ONE CHILD, AND AT 55 LBS WELL BELOW THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF 80 POUNDS. T…
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INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT BROKE APART AT HINGE LINKING SEAT TO SEAT-BACK (SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED, BUT ONLY TO HOLD THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT IN PLACE). THE METAL HINGE BROKE INTO 4 PIECES AND COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT/BACK. THE SEAT WAS USED BY ONLY ONE CHILD, AND AT 55 LBS WELL BELOW THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF 80 POUNDS. THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT REMAINED IN THE BOOSTER-SEAT POSITION MOST OF THE TIME AND WAS NOT SUBJECT TO AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF OPENING AND CLOSING. THIS SUGGESTS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY AND EVEN THE LIFE OF A CHILD STRAPPED INTO THE INTEGRATED BOOSTER SEAT. IF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FAILURE WAS NOT NOTICED BY A PARENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH-IMPACT CRASH, THE SEAT COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE ITSELF, PROPELLING THE CHILD INTO SEATS OR WINDOWS.
SEAT BELTS FRONT THEY ARE VERY SHORT AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE NECK I AM 5 6 AND HEAVY AND HAVE TO USE THE EXTENSION. I DO NOT THINK THE SEAT BELT IS SAFE AT ALL. IT WOULD CAUSE INJURY IN A CRASH. FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD LOWER THE SEAT BELT FASTENER SO IT COMES ACROSS THE SHOULDERS. THE ENTENDER SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY I…
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SEAT BELTS FRONT THEY ARE VERY SHORT AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE NECK I AM 5 6 AND HEAVY AND HAVE TO USE THE EXTENSION. I DO NOT THINK THE SEAT BELT IS SAFE AT ALL. IT WOULD CAUSE INJURY IN A CRASH. FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD LOWER THE SEAT BELT FASTENER SO IT COMES ACROSS THE SHOULDERS. THE ENTENDER SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IF ENOUGH SEAT BELT WAS MADE AVAILABLE. FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS.
INTEGRATED CHILD BOOSTER SEAT FELL APART. HINGE LINKING THE SEAT BACK TO THE SEAT BOTTOM BROKE INTO MULTIPLE PIECES UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE BACK COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM THE EXPANDABLE SEAT, AND IT IS NO LONGER USABLE. *JB
THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE REAR SEAT BELTS,THE LOCKING CLIPS/BUCKLES ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT IT IS EASY FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGER TO DISCONNECT THE BELT THAT HOLDS THE INFANT SEAT.*ET
REAR SEAT BELT, WHICH SECURES THE INFANT SEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT, BECOMES INADVERTENTLY DISCONNECTED , WHEN THE PASSENGER SITTING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE INFANT SEAT, ATTEMPTS TO FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELT. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP.
Official recalls
304V368000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Jul 30, 2004
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 & remedy
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, 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.
02V314000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Nov 19, 2002
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 & remedy
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 AT 1-800-458-1552.
99V235000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Aug 30, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA02019 · Seat Fires
Opened Aug 22, 2002 · Closed Dec 18, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
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.
Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
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.
PE02029 · Passenger Compartment Fires
Opened Mar 7, 2002 · Closed Aug 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
PE99040 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jun 7, 1999 · Closed Oct 27, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
No summary supplied.