NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Volvo 960 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 Volvo 960 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 20 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Volvo 960, plus NCAP crash-test ratings.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1997 Volvo 960 owner complaints

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Volvo 960, describing incidents dated November 7, 1996 to January 28, 2012.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 4 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Equipment 1 complaint

Of the 20 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 20 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10445680 · Filed January 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…
ODI #10181621 · Filed January 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
ODI #10103877 · Filed December 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

Read all 20 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 Volvo 960 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE99-040: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
Closed October 27, 1999

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 Volvo 960 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

1997 Volvo 960 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

1 investigation

20 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Volvo 960.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10445680

Incident: January 28, 2012 · Filed: January 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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10181621

Incident: November 1, 2006 · Filed: January 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

Seat Belts

ODI #10103877

Incident: April 15, 2004 · Filed: December 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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10064444

Incident: March 26, 2004 · Filed: April 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

Air Bags

ODI #898235

Crash 1 injury

Incident: August 27, 2001 · Filed: October 25, 2001

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

Air Bags

ODI #897876

Crash 1 injury

Incident: August 27, 2001 · Filed: October 17, 2001

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #875493

Incident: May 1, 2000 · Filed: November 27, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER DID NOT HELP CONSUMER. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

Air Bags

ODI #856837

Crash

Filed: February 14, 2000

VEHICLE REAR ENDED A TRUCK AT 50MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #829938

Incident: July 22, 1998 · Filed: November 2, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER PREVIOUSLY TAKEN VEHICLE INTO THE REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, A LEAK IN THE INJECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTUTER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #822144

Crash

Incident: March 19, 1998 · Filed: April 21, 1998

AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE , THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

Check your 1997 Volvo 960 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volvo 960 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volvo VIN