RoadVitals

1996 Volvo 960

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
60
Latest Jul 16, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9
10 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 60 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Volvo 960, most frequently naming the brakes, fuel system and electrical categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 108 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE99040ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

Opened Jun 7, 1999
Closed Oct 27, 1999
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 60
Fuel system
Filed Jul 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO 960. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE FUEL RAIL AND THE FUEL RAIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE AS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 11/27/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10734578
Incident
Jun 17, 2015
Mileage
73,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 19, 2012

RAW GASOLINE LEAKING FROM MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE FUEL RAIL. MANUFACTURE MACHINED SEALED TAPET/FLANGED ALUMINUM SEAL ON FUEL RAIL LEAKING RAW GASOLINE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE IN ENGINE BAY. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS DURING ENGINE OPERATION. RAW GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE. FUEL RAIL DELIVER SYSTEM PART OF EMISSIONS SYSTEM. OCCUPANTS MAY OR NOT NOTICE GASOLINE SMELL (NOXIOUS FUMES) DURING OPERATION INSIDE CABIN. MANUFACTURER RECALL ADVISED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10485136
Incident
Nov 15, 2012
Fuel system
Filed Oct 8, 2012

RAW GASOLINE LEAKING FROM MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE FUEL RAIL. MANUFACTURE MACHINED SEALED TAPET/FLANGED ALUMINUM SEAL ON FUEL RAIL LEAKING RAW GASOLINE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE IN ENGINE BAY. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS DURING ENGINE OPERATION. RAW GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE. FUEL RAIL DELIVER SYSTEM PART OF EMISSIONS SYSTEM. OCCUPANTS MAY OR NOT NOTICE GASOLINE SMELL (NOXIOUS FUMES) DURING OPERATION INSIDE CABIN. MANUFACTURER RECALL ADVISED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479309
Incident
Oct 8, 2012
Mileage
166,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 23, 2011

LEAKING FUEL RAIL - OUR 1996 VOLVO 960, WHICH WAS BOUGHT NEW AND SERVICED REGULARLY BY VOLVO MECHANICS, DEVELOPED A BAD FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN, AND, WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, IT WAS APPARENT THAT IT HAD A SERIOUS GASOLINE LEAK, WHICH WAS MODE WORSE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT. I TRIED TO FIND THE LEAK, BUT COULDN'T FIND ANY FUEL LINES LEAKING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL VOLVO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL RAIL, AND SAID THAT IT WAS QUITE COMMON ON THAT MODEL. I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS DANGEROUS, AND HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS A COMPLETE DUMMY! WE HAD THE FUEL RAIL REPLACED, AT GREAT EXPENSE, OF COURSE, BUT I COULDN'T HAVE MY FAMILY AT RISK DAILY IN THE CAR. THERE APPEARS NOT TO BE A RECALL, BUT I AM HAVING ONE OF THE LOCAL PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS LOOK INTO THE SITUATION. SURELY THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION! *LN

NHTSA ID
10378366
Incident
Jun 3, 2010
Mileage
136,511 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 24, 2009

I LIVE IN GA AND LAST FRIDAY I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK IN THE RAIN, I HIT A BIG PUDDLE AND MY CAR STALLED OUT THEN CAME BACK ON AFTER I CLEARED THE PUDDLE, I CHECKED UNDERNEATH WHEN I GOT HOME AND THERE WAS NOTHING LOOSE THAT I COULD SEE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. MY CAR IS A 1996 VOLVO 960 WITH 177,000 MILES ON IT, IT RUNS GOOD BUT DOES HAVE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES TOO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10281525
Incident
Aug 21, 2009
Mileage
177,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2007

AT 110K I NOTICED COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING FASTER THAN USUAL, AND COOLANT ON GARAGE FLOOR. DEALER REMOVED SIDE ENGINE COVER AND SHOWED ME A LINE OF PINHOLE LEAKS IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK. TECHNICIAN SAID THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT HE HAD SEEN BEFORE, AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. VOLVO OFFERED NO HELP, "OUT OF WARRANTY." I PURCHASED A USED 1998 960 ENGINE FOR $1900 AND DEALER INSTALLED FOR $1800, INCLUDING INCIDENTAL PARTS. SOON THEREAFTER, RADIATOR BLEW AND RUINED CYLINDER HEAD. THE 1 YEAR USED ENGINE WARRANTY COVERED CYLINDER HEAD AND I PAID ABOUT $800 FOR NEW RADIATOR. TOTAL OUTLAY $4500! I FOLDED MY CARDS AND GOT $3500 FOR VOLVO TOWARD A NEW TOYOTA COROLLA. NO MORE VOLVOS FOR ME! *NM

NHTSA ID
10182120
Incident
Jan 4, 2006
Mileage
114,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 21, 2006

FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CAR HAS BEEN REEKING OF GASOLINE FUMES, NORMALLY IN THE MORNING WHEN COLD STARTING, BUT WOULD OCCUR PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE SMELL WAS SO OVERWHELMING THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE HEATER ON IN THE CAR, AND WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TO TRY TO RID THE CAR OF FUMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALER AND LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR DAYS. THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS A ACCUMULATION OF SOMETHING IN THE VENT SYSTEM, AND THEY CLEANED THAT OUT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL RAIL. THE END PIECE WOULD ALLOW FUEL TO VIRTUALLY SPILL OUT. PLEASE REFER TO THIS WEB SITE WHICH DESCRIBES THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN DETAIL: HTTP://WWW.VOLVOCLUB.ORG.UK/FAQ/960_90INFO.HTML#960B6300FUELRAILLEAKAGEPROBLEMS MY CAR WAS A POTENTIAL TIME BOMB. NOT ONLY DID VOLVO NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN MY NEW MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM IT TOOK MY MECHANIC THREE TRIPS TO VOLVO IN ORDER TO HAVE THEM ORDER THE CORRECT PARTS AS VOLVO NO LONGER MANUFACTURERS THAT PARTICULAR PART - HMMMM....I WONDER WHY. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A HORRIBLE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. WE EXPERIENCED SORE THROATS, AND FROZE TO DEATH ON COLD MORNINGS NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN THE HEATER ON DUE TO BEING FUMIGATED WITH GASOLINE FUMES. *NM *NM

NHTSA ID
10172972
Incident
Oct 16, 2006
Mileage
160,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2005

THE FUEL RAIL BEGAN LEAKING FROM PLUG IN FRONT END OF RAIL. I WAS ABLE TO SMELL THE LEAK IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A FIRE OR OTHER DAMAGE. LOCAL INDEPENDENT PARTS STORE INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 960. BOUGHT A NEW, REDESIGNED FUEL RAIL FROM LOCAL VOLVO DEALER. IT WAS IN STOCK AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY SELL A FAIR NUMBER OF THESE. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART. THE NEW PART HAS A DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE END PLUG WHICH LEAKED ON MY CAR. I NO LONGER HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10144365
Incident
Nov 21, 2005
Mileage
139,420 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

C00009

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION.

TJ3656330

Rubber cushion

Special Tools Bu

The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.

Service Manager

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations

356EN01

EQUIPMENT

VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App

Service Manager

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo 960 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998000—
1997200146.2
1996Viewing600144.4
1995571256.5
1994190148.3
1993701—
1992210145.4
1991002—
1990101—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.