Reported: 2002-11-19 (November 19, 2002) · Model years: 1996, 1997
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: 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.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
23 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
26.1%Usable mileage6 / 23 records
87.0%Valid incident date20 / 23 records
100.0%Valid filing date23 / 23 records
87.0%Ordered incident and filing dates20 / 23 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1994
1995
1996
1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
120.0%ODI 10028969
YET ANOTHER 1996 VOLVO 850 SUFFERING FROM ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE.*AK
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 ACCID…
HISTORY OF FUEL ODOR IN AND AROUND VEHICLE AFTER FILLING TANK.USUALLY DISSIPATED UPON DRIVING AND WAS ATTRIBUTED TO SPILLAGE. IN JULY 2000 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNITE FOLLOWING FUELING AND A LARGE AMOUNT OFF GASOLINE, POSSIBLY OVER 1 LITER FORMED A POOL UNDER THE CAR. AN ACTIVE LEAK WAS NOTED. AFTER DRIVING 50= MILES THE LEAK STOPPED. I ASSUMED THE AUTO SHUT OFF ON THE SERVICE STATION PUMP HAD FAILED AND TOOK CARE NOT TO FILL TANK COMPLETELYON SUBSEQUENT FUELING. AGAININ SEPT 2000 THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN MY GARAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO 854. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL PROGRESSING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Too few reports for a range
33,210 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10000102 · 33,210 mi
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 ACCID…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO 854. WHEN THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE TANK WITH FUEL, HE SMELLED FUEL FUMES WITHOUT GETTING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED DYER & DYER VOLVO CARS (5260 PEACHTREE BLVD, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1996: 2 complaints · 1997: 3 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1996
2
2
2
1997
1
2
3
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1996
5
0
0
1997
6
1
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Air Bags:Frontal
Electrical System
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Fuel/Propulsion System
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Air Bags
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
5 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
2 mentions · 8.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 184,958 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10140084 · 184,958 mi
(1) DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE ROAD, SUDDENLY (2) THE CAR HAD NO POWER (COULD NOT ACCELERATE, IT FELT LIKE THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE GONE), BUT THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING (I COULD STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CHANGE THE ENGINE RPMS), BUT DIDN'T GENERATE ANY POWER (IMPROPER AIR/FUEL RATIO?). ONCE I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE STALLED. (3) I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. IF I STARTED THE CAR NORMALLY, IT WOULD TURN OVER, BUT NOT START--IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS FLOODED. HOWEVE…
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.
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Steering assistance concerns
2 mentions · 8.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 184,958 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10140084 · 184,958 mi
(1) DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE ROAD, SUDDENLY (2) THE CAR HAD NO POWER (COULD NOT ACCELERATE, IT FELT LIKE THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE GONE), BUT THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING (I COULD STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CHANGE THE ENGINE RPMS), BUT DIDN'T GENERATE ANY POWER (IMPROPER AIR/FUEL RATIO?). ONCE I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE STALLED. (3) I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. IF I STARTED THE CAR NORMALLY, IT WOULD TURN OVER, BUT NOT START--IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS FLOODED. HOWEVE…
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.
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
Matching rule\b(parasitic drain|battery drain\w*|dead battery|won.t start|would not start|no.start)\b
Fuel smell or leak mentions
1 mentions · 4.3% of complaints
Median mileage: 225,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 11184648 · 225,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO 854. WHEN THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE TANK WITH FUEL, HE SMELLED FUEL FUMES WITHOUT GETTING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED DYER & DYER VOLVO CARS (5260 PEACHTREE BLVD, CHAMBLEE, GA 30341, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.