FaultScore report
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 1992 Volvo 960 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
23
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 2 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
INADVERT. AIR BAG DEPLOYS
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED AND RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH THE ROAD BARRIER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION CAR WHEN UP IN FLAMES. VOLVO CLAIMS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #719576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AFTER TURNING THE KEY SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. IN SPITE OF TAKING THE KEY OUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE. OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINED STOPPED, BUT THEN STARTED AGAIN. EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN UP IN FLAMES. I WANT TO REPORT THIS AND FOUND OUT IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #718754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 VOLVO 960 SERIES STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS ALSO CEASED FUNCTIONING WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. *KB THE VEHICLE JERKED PRIOR TO STALLING. THE VEHICLE BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD IF PARKED ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10169114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1992 960 STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A JERKING MOTION BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE PARKING. THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE BATTERY DIED IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE CIRCUIT FOR THE POWER WINDOWS AND SHIFTLOCK CIRCUIT.
NHTSA complaint #10168038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 960 STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A JERKING MOTION BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE PARKING. THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE BATTERY DIED IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE CIRCUIT FOR THE POWER WINDOWS AND SHIFTLOCK CIRCUIT.
NHTSA complaint #10168038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PROBLEM CONSISTED OF TREAD SEPARATION DESPITE PROPER INFLATION OF 40 PSI AND MAINTAINING 50 MPH MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT. IN CONTACTING LOCAL FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE DEALER TO CLAIM A REPLACEMENT BY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ITEM, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE OFFICIAL DECISION FROM 'HEADQUARTERS' WAS THAT MY WARRANTY CLAIM WOULD NOT BE HONORED DUE TO THE TIRE BEING "IN A HOT TRUNK FOR TEN YEARS". IF THIS IS THE OFFICIAL STANCE OF FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A WRITTEN NOTICE TO ALL AFFECTED EARLY MODEL VOLVO OWNERS WITH THIS SPARE TIRE THAT THEIR TIRES HAVE A 'SHELF LIFE' AND NEED TO BE DISCARDED AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DESPITE NO OUTWARD SIGNS TO THE CONTRARY. THIS SPARE TIRE HAS SEEN LIMITED USE AS CAN BE SEEN BY THE DEPTH OF THE TREAD AND IS NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF 'DRY ROT'. IN FACT, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COATED WITH A PRESERVATIVE THAT HAS LEFT THE TIRE'S EXTERIOR FLEXIBLE AND FREE OF ANY CRACKS OR OUTWARD SIGNS OF AGING. FOR YOUR REFERENCE, THE ENTIRE DOT CODE ON THE TIRE'S SIDE WALL IS WF P7 B2E T441 AND THERE IS A NOTATION THAT THE TIRE WAS MADE IN SPAIN. I CAN ALSO PROVIDE NHTSA WITH PHOTOS OF THE TIRE IN QUESTION VIA E-MAIL OR SHIP YOU THE ACTUAL TIRE FOR YOUR INDEPTH EXAMINATION IF PROVIDED A FED-EX OR UPS ACCOUNT NUMBER AND A SHIPPING ADDRESS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY ADDITONAL INFORMATION OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I WILL BE E-MAILING THE NHTSA WEBMASTER A TRANSCRIPT OF THE E-MAIL COMMUNICATION THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED BETWEEN FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE, VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I.
NHTSA complaint #767631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT FAILED, DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, DRIVE BELT, CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND HAD TO REBUILD THE CYLINDER HEAD WITH NEW VALVES. *SLC *MJ *DT PH (DAUGHTER LUCY PICARDI ON BEHALF OF MOTHER) *JB
NHTSA complaint #564938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ALUMINUM ALLOY IN THE BLOCK FAILED RESULTING IN A LINE OF PINHOLES IN THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED LOW COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR, THE LEAK CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE A GALLON OF COOLANT EVERY TEN MILES CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO BOIL RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE, OIL WAS ALSO LEAKING FROM BLOCK PARALLEL TO THOSE BLEEDING COOLANT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #557452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE BLOCK BEGAN LEAKING FIRST COOLANT AND THEN OIL DIRECTLY THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK JUST BELOW THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DESPITE EFFORTS TO PLUG THE LEAK, IT BECAME SO LARGE, A GALLON EVERY 10 MILTES, THAT THE ENGINE BECAME UNUSABLE. WE HAD TO REPLAC.
NHTSA complaint #735829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED AND RESULTED IN COLLISION WITH THE ROAD BARRIER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT ON THIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES SERVICE. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES "REPLACE TIMING BELT AND INSTALL DAMPER. R/R TIMING BELT AND DAMPER AS PER BULLETIN" NOW LESS THAN 30,000 MILES LATER THE TIMING BELT HAS BROKEN WITH ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $ 3000. WHAT IS THE BULLETIN THEY REFER TO??? IS THERE AN IMPLIED WARRANTY FOR THIS PRODUCT REPLACED PER THE BULLETIN??? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT NECESSITATED THE BULLETIN IN THE FIRST PLACE??? NOTE THAT SERVICE BULLETIN 2003 REGARDING THIS VEHICLE REFERS TO ENGINE REPLACEMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A 1995 ENGINE INCORPORATING A WIDER TIMING BELT...... IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACTORY TIMING BELT OR ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD CAUSE REPEATED FAILURES??? ALSO...THE EXHAUST PIPE REPEATEDLY COMES APART AT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A FRIEND HAS THE SAME MODEL VOLVO...SAME EXHAUST PIPE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #724422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT ON THIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AT 60000 MILES SERVICE. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES "REPLACE TIMING BELT AND INSTALL DAMPER. R/R TIMING BELT AND DAMPER AS PER BULLETIN" NOW LESS THAN 30,000 MILES LATER THE TIMING BELT HAS BROKEN WITH ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $ 3000. WHAT IS THE BULLETIN THEY REFER TO??? IS THERE AN IMPLIED WARRANTY FOR THIS PRODUCT REPLACED PER THE BULLETIN??? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT NECESSITATED THE BULLETIN IN THE FIRST PLACE??? NOTE THAT SERVICE BULLETIN 2003 REGARDING THIS VEHICLE REFERS TO ENGINE REPLACEMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A 1995 ENGINE INCORPORATING A WIDER TIMING BELT...... IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE FACTORY TIMING BELT OR ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD CAUSE REPEATED FAILURES??? ALSO...THE EXHAUST PIPE REPEATEDLY COMES APART AT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A FRIEND HAS THE SAME MODEL VOLVO...SAME EXHAUST PIPE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #724422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
07/11/99 DRIVING THE VOLVO +/-40 MPH - NOT UNDER LOAD - & ENGINE QUIT - METAL ON METAL NOISE - PULLED OFF ROADWAY & CALLED A WRECKER. TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN 1,250 MILES SHORT OF NEXT CHANGE. CALLED VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA - THEY STATED IT WAS A MATTER BTWN ME & DEALER WHO LAST CHANGED THE TIMING BELT. THIS DEALER (SONNY KING VOLVO, BIRMINGHAN, AL) IS NOW OUT OF BUSINESS - BUT WORK ORDER SHOWED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED - EVEN THOUGH THE CHARGE FOR SERVICE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER QUOTED ME FOR A BELT REPLACEMENT & THE REST OF THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE. I PAID FOR THE MAINTENANCE - IT WAS NEVER RENDERED. VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA STATED "IT'S A LICK ON YOU FOR NOT READING YOUR SERVICE ORDER." I PAID $2,300 FOR A COMPLETE NEW HEAD & REPLACEMENT COSTS. GOT THE CAR BACK IN THE FALL, DROVE IT ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND IT STARTED SPRAYING OIL ALL OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER WHO DID THE HEAD REPLACEMENT TOOK THE CAR BACK - DID SOME REPAIR, AT NO COST & RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITHIN A WEEK. THE CAR NEVER RAN CORRECTLY AND LOST COOLANT EVERYTIME IT WAS DRIVEN. IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 - IT GOT SO IT REQUIRED MORE COOLANT THAN FUEL SO I GARAGED THE CAR UNTIL I HAD TIME TO GET IT CHECKED OUT BY ANOTHER VOLVO SHOP. USED THE VEHICLE FOR SHORT (AROUND TOWN) TRIPS - IN FEBRUARY - I NOTICED IT WAS TAKING ON MORE THAN A GALLON OF WATER TO DRIVE 16 MILES TO WORK & BACK - HAD THE VOLVO TRAILERED BACK TO THE VOLVO SHOP THAT CHANGED THE HEAD - WAS INFORMED THE ALUMINUM BLOCK HAD CRACKED AND NOW I NEED TO COME UP WITH $7,200 (ROUGHLY) FOR A NEW BLOCK. I CAN GET IT DOWN TO +/- $4,000 TO GET A USED ENGINE. VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA AGAIN NOTIFIED AND THEIR RESPONSE TO MY WIFE WAS, "YOU WERE LUCKY TO GET 100,000 MILES OUT OF THE CAR. WE DON'T MAKE THAT MODEL ANYMORE. THIS PROBLEM IS BETWEEN YOU AND THE DEALER THAT CHANGED THE HEAD."
NHTSA complaint #722406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #861351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION CAR WHEN UP IN FLAMES. VOLVO CLAIMS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #719576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AFTER TURNING THE KEY SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. IN SPITE OF TAKING THE KEY OUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE. OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINED STOPPED, BUT THEN STARTED AGAIN. EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN UP IN FLAMES. I WANT TO REPORT THIS AND FOUND OUT IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #718754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE BLOCK LEAKS COOLANT TO THE OUTSIDE. AT FAILURE THE ESCAPING COOLANT PRODUCED SMOKE AND ENGINE OVERHEATES. YH
NHTSA complaint #782350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ORIGINAL CYLINDER BLOCK CRACKED IN THE SAME SPOT AS THE REPLACEMENT. VOLVO HAS TWO SERVICE BULLETINS ON REPLACING DEFECTIVE/DAMAGED CYCLINDER BLOCKS FOR THIS MODEL: 221943 MARCH 97 AND 221945 JUNE 97. VOLVO IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR A POSSIBLE DESIGN DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #706274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #832355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND SMOKE POURED FROM FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THE INTACT MANIFOLD HAD BEEN FORCIBLY SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE, THE MAIN FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL DISTIBUTER WAS SEVERED, AND A CUP OR MORE OF FUEL LAY PUDDLED UNDER THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #532411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #527474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE BLOCK IS CRACKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAK OIL AND COOLANT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #819955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR STOPPED WITH NO WARNING, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TIMMING BELT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #803536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS /VIBRATES IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #975081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING MAJOR INTERNAL DAMAGE TO ENGINE; ACCORDING TO MANUAL, TIMING BELT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED AT 60,000 MILES. TT
NHTSA complaint #971764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.