Model year record
1997 Volvo 960 recalls & problems
The 1997 Volvo 960 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 20 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1997 Volvo 960.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1997 Volvo 960 4-DR.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
960 Wagon/V90
| City / highway | 16 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system; Engine › Gasoline | 4 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 4 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Disc | 3 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlLinkages | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system | 3 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Seats | 1 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Retractor | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Fuel 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…
- Engine 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
- Seat 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
- Engine 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
- Steering › 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
- Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
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 › FrontalCrash1 injury
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 › 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…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTClosed