RoadVitals

1996 Volvo 960 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Aug 24, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 60 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Volvo 960 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE THE FAN RELAY SWITCH MELTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START SMOKING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND DISCONNECTION OF THE BATTERY THE SMOKE ENDED AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. *TT

NHTSA ID
10123988
Incident
May 1, 2005
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 2, 2001
Fire reported

UPON STARTING UP VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. A NEIGHBOR STARTED YELLING FOR HER HUSBAND TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM BELOW THE VEHICLE WHILE ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO START, EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. INSURANCE COMPANY WAS GOING TO HAVE VEHICLE REMOVED. *AK AREA OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE ENGINE ARE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
891869
Incident
Jun 24, 2001
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Nov 15, 2000

THERMOSTAT WAS STICKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, WHEN CONSUMER GOT VEHICLE BACK, HE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE THE COOLANT CAP AND RESERVOIR WERE NOT HOLDING PRESSURE. RADIATOR NECK WAS BROKEN. IGNITION COILS HAD HAIR LINE FRACTURES. INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED REPLACED. BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. BATTERY FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
875034
Incident
Apr 27, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2000

OVER A PERIOD OF 4 YEARS VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED VARIOUS COMPONENTS. VEHICLE WILL OPERATE SAFELY FOR A WHILE, BUT PROBLEM COMES RIGHT BACK. PLEASE LIST ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
871574
Electrical
Filed Jul 5, 2000

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR 2 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS 19,000 MILES. THE WARRANTY WAS UP THIS YEAR. NO REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM FROM THE DEALER & NO SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
864799
Incident
Sep 2, 1998
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Oct 21, 1999

THROTTLE PLATE WAS STICKING CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. NLM

NHTSA ID
549134
BrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 15, 1998

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
543047
BrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 10, 1998
Crash reported

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO AN ENBANKMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
832152
Incident
Jul 12, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 1997

PNP SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE NOT TO START.

NHTSA ID
604683
Incident
May 27, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .