VOLVO 960 · model year

1997 VOLVO 960

23 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997VOLVO960 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 960 is air bags:frontal with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2) and vehicle speed control (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 1997 960. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

23
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
TIRES1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1
SEATS1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1

Recent Complaints

20120128FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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 O

Mileage: 154,000

20120128FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

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 O

Mileage: 154,000

20070131ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20041216SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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

Mileage: 38,000

20040402ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 100,765

20021030STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

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

20011025CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20011017CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20010706SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

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

20010625ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WITH NO INDICATION OF OVERHEATING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE ONLY IDIOT LIGHT TO COME ON WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THAT WAS AFTER BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL RANGE AND NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO VOLVO BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY STATE IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED AND THEY CAN NOT BE TESTED ANYWAY BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED.*AK

20010625UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WITH NO INDICATION OF OVERHEATING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE ONLY IDIOT LIGHT TO COME ON WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THAT WAS AFTER BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL RANGE AND NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO VOLVO BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY STATE IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED AND THEY CAN NOT BE TESTED ANYWAY BECAUSE THE CAR CAN NOT BE STARTED.*AK

20001127SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

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

20000214CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

19991129VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AS SOON THE HAND BRAKE WAS RELEASED THE VEHICLE ACCILERATED FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED ON ITS OWN AND WAS ONLY STOPPED BY CRASHING INTO WALL. YH

19990730SEATS

DRIVER SEAT BLOCKS REAR VISION, DUE TO DESIGN HEIGHT. YH

19990730EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK ADEQUATELY FOR REAR SEATS. YH

19990122CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING CRASH.

19981102FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

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

19980421CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

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

19980205TIRES

TIRES BLEW OUT WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE/SMALL DITCH IN THE ROAD.

Compare 1997VOLVO960 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 VOLVO 960 have?
The 1997 VOLVO 960 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 VOLVO 960?
The most-complained component for the 1997 VOLVO 960 is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1997 VOLVO 960 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.