NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Volvo 854 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Volvo 854 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 7 owner complaints on file as of October 21, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volvo dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Volvo 854. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1997 Volvo 854 owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Volvo 854, describing incidents dated October 1, 1997 to November 3, 2010.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 4 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 3 complaints
Steering 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10365181 · Filed November 9, 2010
ODOMETER FAILURE AT UNDER 90,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT; NOT TAMPERED WITH; VEHICLE NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
ODI #10023414 · Filed June 19, 2003
TRACS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS. *NLM
ODI #10023007 · Filed June 13, 2003
FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE ON THE VOLVO 850. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, AND A RECALL INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *NLM

Read all 7 complaints

VOLVO/ELECTRICAL SEAT HEATER

NHTSA #02V314000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Seat Heater/Cooler · NHTSA notice

Reported November 19, 2002 · VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.

Potentially affected: 65,000 vehicles

Volvo campaign 112 · Owners notified February 19, 2003 · Vehicles built May 1, 1996 – December 31, 1996 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

VOLVO CARS RECALL NO. 112. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

VOLVO/THROTTLE

NHTSA #96V199000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported October 11, 1996 · VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.

Potentially affected: 12,530 vehicles

Owners notified November 8, 1996 · Vehicles built April 1, 1996 – July 31, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

THE SCREWS WHICH ATTACH THE THROTTLE PLATE TO ITS AXLE (SHAFT) CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE THROTTLE PLATE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE THROTTLE HOUSING.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE HOUSING.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 8, 1996. NOTE: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.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Volvo 854. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Volvo 854.

Electrical System

ODI #10365181

Incident: November 3, 2010 · Filed: November 9, 2010

ODOMETER FAILURE AT UNDER 90,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT; NOT TAMPERED WITH; VEHICLE NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Electrical System

ODI #10023414

Incident: April 1, 2003 · Filed: June 19, 2003

TRACS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10023007

Incident: June 13, 2003 · Filed: June 13, 2003

FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE ON THE VOLVO 850. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, AND A RECALL INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10000102

Incident: February 24, 2001 · Filed: December 13, 2002

MY VEHICLE IS A 1997 VOLVO 850R, I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VOLVO IS A SOILD CAR BUT THE 850 SERIES HAVE A DEFECT WITH THE ABS/TRACS MODULE, THIS SETS A CODE ON YOUR OBDII AND IT CLEARS WHEN YOU RESTART THE CAR. THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THAT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CONTROL MODULE SEES A FAULT AND DEACTIVATES THE ABS/TRACS CONTROL MODULE AND YOU NO LONGER HAVE AN ABS ON THE VEHICLE AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS IF IT'S RAINING, SNOWING OR A SUDDEN STOP ON THE FREEWAY. THE WHEELS WILL LOCK GIVING YOU A GREATER CHANCE TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SO FAR I'VE BEEN LUCKY, I SPOKE TO THE VOLVO DEALER DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY CAN CHANGE THIS UNIT UNDER THE VOLVO VIP WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED AND THE NEW UNIT COST AROUND $600.00 WITHOUT LABOR. I FEEL THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN CHANGING THIS ABS/TRACS CONTROL MODULE, LOT'S OF VOLVO 850'S AND S70 OWNERS HAVE CHANGED THIS PART WITH VEHICLES IN THE 40,000 TO 60,000 MILE RANGE. THE CAUSE IT'S A HAIR LINE FRACTURE ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT SETS THE FAULT, TOO ME THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND BAD QA CONTROL. I HOPE THAT THIS COMPLANIT WILL NOT JUST GET PUSHED ASIDE AND HOLD VOLVO LIABLE FOR THIS SINCE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT A VOLVO IS BEACUSE SAFETY IS THEIR #1 PRODUCT.

Steering

ODI #712599

Filed: September 30, 1999

THE BELT THAT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR PERIODICALLY SLIPS WHEN WET. THIS OCCURS REPEATEDLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN GOING THROUGH EVEN SMALL PUDDLES. A KIT WAS ADDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT ABOUT 10K MILES. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE PERSISTENT LOSS OF POWER WITH THE KIT IS NORMAL. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE BELT STOPS SLIPPING. IT ALSO IS UNEXPECTED TO FIND THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.

Electrical System

ODI #562096

Incident: September 17, 1998 · Filed: July 16, 2001

THE BATTERY HAS RECHARGED/REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, DUE TO THE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING.*YH

Electrical System

ODI #561656

Incident: October 1, 1997 · Filed: June 13, 2001

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT 3000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED EVERY 5000 MILES UNTIL THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *YH

Other Volvo 854 model years

Check your 1997 Volvo 854 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volvo 854 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volvo VIN