FaultScore

Volvo 960 vs Ford F-450 SD

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Volvo 960 Ford F-450 SD
Complaints on file 259 630
Model years covered 1990–1997 1991–2026
Worst model year 1996 2008
Best model year 1997 2002
Crashes reported 33 18
Fires reported 16 29
Injuries reported 20 21
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Fuel & Propulsion
Share of complaints involving harm 26.6% 10.8%

Volvo 960 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 51 19.7%
Brakes 30 11.6%
Airbags 24 9.3%
Electrical System 23 8.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 20 7.7%
Steering 15 5.8%
Body & Structure 10 3.9%

Ford F-450 SD by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Fuel & Propulsion 146 23.2%
Engine & Cooling 134 21.3%
Brakes 55 8.7%
Tires 46 7.3%
Steering 33 5.2%
Body & Structure 14 2.2%