1997 Volvo 850

Faults:

Electronic Control Module ($600)

Brakes ($300)

Air Conditioning ($200)

Seat Heater recall (free, but doesn't work as well, not as much heat and and lower temps only)

Also: Lots of other major/routine work (over $4,000 worth in last 6 months of ownership.

General Comments:

I can go on forever. Volvo's traditional standard of durability is being tarnished although with a slight increase in creature comforts from the old Swedish tractors. If the 97 and 96's are the best recent models built, I would hate to see what all the others are like. Dealers seem to be enjoying enormous success however, and I suspect it due to the high quanity of increased maintenance business which is also a rediculously high cost product.

I think Volvo's are A real lemons now, or at least mine is, and I don't here positive things from others too. These I think will go the way of Saab in depreciation once the maintenace is better known by the public. I regret not buying a low end Mercedes-Benz or good American car. This car is way too expensive to maintain and way too harsh a ride for a luxury car. The engine also sounds like a sewing machine. It annoyingly switches gears so often the transmission oil burns very quickly requiring frequent changes. It dental sterile quiet except for the numerous buzzes and rattles over the slightest road irregularity which is always.

I believe it is wise to Stay away from Volvo like the plague, it's junk. I'd recommend buying an American car for American roads. It's different so it may be enjoyed as a cult car, if you don't take the downsides of practicalness bother you.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th July, 2003

13th Aug 2005, 16:30

I agree! My experience is too much maintenance for such a junkie, high priced car.

14th Apr 2007, 10:25

When your warranty is out on your car never ever take it back to the dealer to get fixed, as they are the highest priced of any garage to fix your car. If you live in America, I agree it maybe harder to get parts than here in england.

Fix what you can yourself and maybe even buy a scrap car to rob parts from.

Stay away from main dealer, even if the car is in warranty take it elsewhere for small problems.

29th Nov 2008, 10:08

Why oh why do people insist on going to the dealership for repairs and maintenance! If you stick to every service interval and go to the dealership, the cost to keep any car, even American, going is outrageous. Unless it's a recall repair or covered under warranty, the dealership is the last place you should take a Volvo.

For example, it is extremely common that the odometer stops working on the 850. The dealership wants over $300 just in parts, whereas a DIY'er can buy the necessary part for $30 online and fix it in about an hour.

Dealerships are the devil. They are in business to make money don't forget. It's too bad they have to be such dishonest crooks in order to do so.

I wouldn't say the 850 is the last of Volvos best. That honor is left to the Volvo 940, last sold in the US in 1995. The best Volvos are rear-wheel drive and powered by 4cyl. engines.

17th Oct 2009, 20:56

I bought my 850 3 years ago with 175000 miles. A/C went out and the speed odometer stopped at 230000 miles, which was 9 months ago.

I did try to get the service engine light fix at a non dealer, and the mechanic could not get the codes from the Volvo place to fix it. I ended up having to go to a authorized service place and spent $1100 on a computer chip. Still expensive.

For the $2000 I paid for it, I have already got my money back, in which I drive to work everyday 200 miles round trip.

Would I buy another, yeah for this price, but I just do not believe any car out there is worth what they are asking for. .

1997 Volvo 850 SE 6 cylinder

Summary:

Reliable, comfortable, handsome

Faults:

Knock on wood, we haven't had anything break since we purchased the vehicle.

General Comments:

This is a great handling car for it's size.

Very comfortable with a smooth ride.

The heat sucks, it takes forever to heat the car and gets cold quickly while driving (not a trivial point here in Alaska).

The 6 cylinder engine provides smooth acceleration and decent fuel economy (24mpg+ highway/15-20city)

The controls inside are well placed and easy to work.

We purchased this car because our last car, a 1992 Jetta, was a cramped tin can with all manner of electrical problems.

I would buy this car again in a heartbeat.

Dealer repairs for foreign cars are obviously not cheap, but then again, we aren't driving a Taurus so it all works out in the end.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th February, 2003

29th Jun 2003, 21:14

Must be the only 6-cylinder 850 in existence!!

26th Jan 2005, 20:23

If your car takes forever to heat up, your thermastat must be broken. I drive an 850 and when I first got it, my heat sucked, took like 5 to 10 minutes to warm up and it never got warm. Finally we replaced the thermastat and it worked great. Warms up in about 1-2 minutes after you start driving in!

View 5 more comments

1997 Volvo 850 T-5 2.3turbo

Summary:

This is one quick brick!

Faults:

Air conditioner thermostat is no longer working.

Drivers seat rocks back and forth on its tracks under acceleration.

Rear view mirror does not hold position.

Driver side window auto down works once in a while.

Driver side passenger door light out.

Lights in radio are out.

A few lights in air flow system are out.

Leather seats (front) are wearing quickly.

General Comments:

Although the above items listed seem like a lot, they are more trivial than that of a serious nature.

All in all, this 855 T-5 wagon is a dream to drive.

It's fast, somewhat quiet and very, very comfortable.

Truly a drivers car, the effort required to make this car perform reward the driver and passengers with a real understanding of the term sport-touring vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 26th April, 2002

24th Apr 2007, 18:38

I would ditto the front seat wear. I'm looking to redo them now. The shiftlock feature goes out, even the second one. ABS module had to be replaced. MC.