FaultScore

Volvo 960 vs Oldsmobile Achieva

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 Oldsmobile Achieva
Complaints on file 259 625
Model years covered 1990–1997 1992–2000
Worst model year 1996 1995
Best model year 1997 1998
Crashes reported 33 48
Fires reported 16 34
Injuries reported 20 31
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 26.6% 18.6%

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%

Oldsmobile Achieva by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 127 20.3%
Engine & Cooling 105 16.8%
Brakes 89 14.2%
Airbags 47 7.5%
Steering 24 3.8%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 22 3.5%