RoadVitals

1997 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.
20
Latest Jan 28, 2012
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.
5
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Volvo 960, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and brakes categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 105 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

  • Engine419.0%
  • Airbags419.0%
  • Brakes314.3%
  • Driver assistance314.3%
  • Fuel system29.5%
  • Heating & air conditioning14.8%
  • Interior & seats14.8%
  • Seat belts14.8%

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 20
Fuel system
Filed Jan 28, 2012

SMELLED FUEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT,OPENED HOOD AND FOUND A LEAKING FUEL INJECTION SUPPLY RAIL. LEAK STEMS FROM THE END CAP USED ON FUEL RAIL TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND PROCEEDS TO DRIP VIGOROUSLY DOWN TOWARDS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEFORE EVAPORATING AND DRIPPING DOWN ONTO LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE AND FINALLY THE GROUND. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMMENTS IN THE INTERNET FORUMS RELATED TO THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS PART STATING THAT THE LEAK IS LOCATED IN THE END CAP OF THE FUEL RAIL, AND VOLVO HAS A RE ENGINEERED FUEL RAIL THAT ELIMINATES THE LEAKING END CAP AND IS CURRENTLY OFFERING THIS RE ENGINEERED PART AS A REPLACEMENT AT A NORMAL RETAIL LABOR AND PARTS RATE. SINCE MODERN VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL MILEAGE OF 100K , THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT EXPECTING TO HAVE SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD PRESENT ITSELF BY A FAILING FUEL RAIL END CAP, IN ADDITION THE VOLVO OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL RAIL AT ANY SPECIFIC MILEAGE THUS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC BY THE OMISSION THAT SUCH A PART SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE FAILURE OCCURS. IN ADDITION VOLVO HAS RE ENGINEERED THE PART AND IS CURRENTLY PROFITING FROM THE SAFETY HAZARD THAT THIS FUEL RAIL HAS CREATED. VOLVO HAS IN THE PAST AND CURRENTLY ADVERTISED ITSELF AS RELIABLE AND SAFE, THUS CREATING A CERTAIN EXPECTATION OF HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS AND HIGH SAFETY RATINGS, AND VOLVO SHOULD (IN KEEPING WITH IT'S PUBLIC IMAGE) AT IT'S OWN EXPENSE REMEDY THIS PROBLEM BY CONDUCTING A VEHICLE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN SUCH AS NISSAN MOTOR CO. HAS DONE IN THE PAST(NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95I006000) TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE INJURIES THAT MAY RESULT FROM LEAKING FUEL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ALTERED OR MODIFIED BY CURRENT OR PREVIOUS OWNERS AND REIMBURSE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE LEAKING FUEL RAILS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10445680
Incident
Jan 28, 2012
Mileage
154,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2007

CUSTOMER 1997 VOLVO 960 ENGINE FAILED DUE TO TIMING BELT PULLEY FAILURE. **CC THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE A HEAD BOLT HAD SEIZED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10181621
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Seat belts
Filed Dec 16, 2004

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THIS C LEAVES THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10103877
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Mileage
38,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 2, 2004

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN LOW COOLANT LIGHT. SUDDENLY LOST POWER DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. IT SEIZED UP DUE TO OVERHEATING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED HOT. RADIATOR NECK BROKE OFF AT NECK CAUSING LOST OF COOLANT. ENGINE RUINED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE CLAIMING THERMOSTAT STUCK EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDN'T PROVE THIS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10064444
Incident
Mar 26, 2004
Mileage
100,765 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 26, 2002

THE CENTER STEERING WHEEL COVER HAS A STICKY RESIDUE WHEN TOUCHED AND IS DIFFICULT TO WASH OFF. THE CONSUMERS EYES BECOME IRRITATED AND SKIN IS ITCHY. *SCC

NHTSA ID
567631
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HIT A TREE, AND HAD FRONTAL IMPACT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD PREFORMED UP TO STANDARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
898235
Incident
Aug 27, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT DURING RAIN STORM AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HIT TREE WITH FRONTAL IMPACT. CONTACTED VOLVO, AND VOLVO REPLIED THAT VEHICLE PERFORMED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
897876
Incident
Aug 27, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jun 29, 2001

VOLVO DEALER, UNDER WARRANTY REPLACED ALL 4 DISC BRAKE ROTORS & PADS DUE TO WARPING OF ROTORS & RESULTING VIBRATION WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 65 MPH TO 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY. THIS WORK WAS DONE ON 11/14/00 AT 39,024 MILES ON THE CAR. IT IS NOW 6/29/01 AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 43,500 MILES ON IT, IE. ONLY 4,500 ADDITIONAL MILES ON IT. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM ON OUR OTHER CARS, SO IT SHOULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO DRIVER ERROR OR OTHER DRIVER-RELATED CHARACTERISTICS. IN FACT, WE GET VERY GOOD BRAKE WEAR AND DURABILITY ON OUR OTHERS CARS WITH THE SAME DRIVERS. IN THE APRIL, 2001 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE, THIS CAR FOR THE 1997 MODEL YEAR RECEIVED THE WORST AVAILABLE RATING FOR THE BRAKES RELATIVE TO FREQUENCY OF REPAIRS FROM OWNER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE MAGAZINE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS VIBRATION DUE TO DISC ROTOR WARPAGE CAN LEAD TO FURTHER DAMAGE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER AND TO INQUIRE IF YOU HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM ON OTHER VOLVO 960'S OF SIMILAR VINTAGE AS CONSUMER REPORTS HAS FOUND AND ALSO AS I HAVE PERSONALLY FOUND TO BE THE CASE. *AK

NHTSA ID
747584
Incident
Nov 14, 2000

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—
1997Viewing200146.2
1996600144.4
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.