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1996 Volvo 960

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
60Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19.5

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
199319
199457
199560
199620
1997
Compare all 960 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12Electrical System
11Engine And Engine Cooling
7Vehicle Speed Control
7Air Bags
6
All reported categories
Structure
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Steering
4Equipment
3Fuel/propulsion System
3Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Other
2Power Train
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Visibility
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Suspension
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 60 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

11 reports
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177,000 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Electrical System

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…

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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 ODI #10281525

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2005
Electrical System

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 ODI #10123988

55,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Electrical System

DASH LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10045427

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

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 …

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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 ODI #891869

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

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.…

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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 ODI #875034

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Electrical System

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 ODI #871574

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2000
Electrical System

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 ODI #864799

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

THROTTLE PLATE WAS STICKING CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #549134

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #543047

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

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 ODI #832152

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE99040 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment

Opened Jun 7, 1999 · Closed Oct 27, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

No summary supplied.