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
What owners actually said
60 reports
97,398 miles · Jul 24, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
1996 VOLVO 960 SEDAN - FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE PROBLEM, FRONT OF FUEL RAIL DEVELOPED A LEAK AT A FACTORY PLUG (METAL). FUEL WAS POURING OUT BETWEEN METAL PLUG AND FUEL RAIL ONTO THE (HOT) ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING. INQUIRED ABOUT PARTS TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASS'Y FOR A 1996 VOLVO 960, FUEL RAIL ASS'Y HAS BEEN SUPE…
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1996 VOLVO 960 SEDAN - FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE PROBLEM, FRONT OF FUEL RAIL DEVELOPED A LEAK AT A FACTORY PLUG (METAL). FUEL WAS POURING OUT BETWEEN METAL PLUG AND FUEL RAIL ONTO THE (HOT) ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING. INQUIRED ABOUT PARTS TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL ASS'Y FOR A 1996 VOLVO 960, FUEL RAIL ASS'Y HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY A 1998 UP DESIGN. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE AND POSSIBLE DEATH.
NHTSA ODI #10129839
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
135,000 miles · Apr 19, 2005
Fuel System, Other
FUEL SMELL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10118108
55,000 miles · Sep 13, 2004
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
THE POWER STEERING PIPE MADE NOISE. *NM THERE WAS A NOISE DURING PARKING MANEUVERS OR TRAVELING AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEEDS COMING FORM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE A/C WOULD NOT COOL AND THE BRAKES PULSATED. (IN RE TO ODI# 10038186) *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10092386
159,000 miles · May 5, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
TWICE, IN MY 1996 VOLVO 960, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IN BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW MY CAR DOWN IN ORDER TO TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. I EVENTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED IT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY, BUT THESE WERE THE MOST FRIGHTENING DRIVI…
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TWICE, IN MY 1996 VOLVO 960, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IN BOTH CIRCUMSTANCES I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AND IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW MY CAR DOWN IN ORDER TO TAKE AN EXIT RAMP. I EVENTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED IT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY, BUT THESE WERE THE MOST FRIGHTENING DRIVING EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, MY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE (WHICH APPEARED NORMAL) AND REPLACED MY BRAKES (WHICH I DESTROYED TRYING TO STOP THE CAR). AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT (TWO WEEKS LATER), THE DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED. I HAD NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THAT CAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10068338
69,051 miles · Mar 31, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG CHEMICAL FUME SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED SORRY, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK THE FUEL RAIL ALUMINUM HOUSING WAS LEAKING WHERE IT WAS A CRIMPED TOGETHER AT THE ENDS. GAS WAS LEAKI…
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THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG CHEMICAL FUME SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED SORRY, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT WARRANTY. *AK THE FUEL RAIL ALUMINUM HOUSING WAS LEAKING WHERE IT WAS A CRIMPED TOGETHER AT THE ENDS. GAS WAS LEAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD AT THE FIREWALL AND GAS FUMES WERE ESCAPING THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10029880
55,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Electrical System
DASH LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10045427
22,812 miles · Oct 28, 2003
Unknown Or Other
ODOMETER FRAUD FROM DEALERSHIP - VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 21,812. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS AND WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD MANY MORE MILES ON IT. THROUGH CAR FAX WE FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD OVER 90,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT FROM A DEALERSHIP …
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ODOMETER FRAUD FROM DEALERSHIP - VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 21,812. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS AND WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD MANY MORE MILES ON IT. THROUGH CAR FAX WE FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD OVER 90,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT FROM A DEALERSHIP THAT IS PART OF A LARGE AUTO GROUP AND PRESUMED PROPER DUE DILIGENCE WAS DONE. WHILE WE DID GET A REFUND, WE FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT SHOULD THERE BE OTHERS OUT THERE IN THE SAME SITUATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10043710
22,576 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Steering
WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DRIVER WOULD HEAR LOUD NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. *AK THE POWER STEERING PIPE FAILED AND CAUSED A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1998. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE REPAIRS BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE SI…
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WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DRIVER WOULD HEAR LOUD NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. *AK THE POWER STEERING PIPE FAILED AND CAUSED A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1998. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE REPAIRS BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE MANY UNNECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO ALLEVIATE THE NOISE PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. THE A/C WAS NOT COOLING. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WORE BELOW SPECS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. *TS *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10039674
22,576 miles · Oct 20, 2003
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES; DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE POWER STEERING PIPE FAILED AND CAUSED A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1998. THE CONSUM…
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WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES; DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE POWER STEERING PIPE FAILED AND CAUSED A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1998. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE REPAIRS BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE MANY UNNECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO ALLEVIATE THE NOISE PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. THE A/C WAS NOT COOLING. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WORE BELOW SPECS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. *TS *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10038186
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.
1996 Volvo 960 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year