1996 Volvo 850 vs 1997 Volvo 850
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Volvo 850 | 1997 Volvo 850 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 192 | 107 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 136 | 138 |
| Investigations | 6 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 7 |
| Fire reports | 20 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 97,000 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volvo 850 | Volvo 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 46 | 25 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 23 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 6 |
| Power Train | 15 | 6 |
| Tires | 11 | 9 |
| Seats | 9 | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 7 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
1996 Volvo 850
1997 Volvo 850
Compare all Volvo 850 vs Volvo 850 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.