30 of the 259 complaints filed about the Volvo 960 are about the braking system — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
30
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
NHTSA complaint #10092386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 complaint #10038186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AND WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. ON A LATER TRIP THE SAME DAY THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY WENT FROM 30 MPH TO 50 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WITH BRAKING AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. WHEN PUT IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 4000RPM, IN PARK IT SLOWED CLOSER TO IDLE. ONCE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN, IT THEN ONCE AGAIN BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #750302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 RELATIVE TO FREQUENCY OF REPAIRS FROM OWNER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE MAGAZINE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS VIBRATION DUE TO DISC ROTOR WARPAGE CAN LEAD TO FURTHER DAMAGE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER AND TO INQUIRE IF YOU HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM ON OTHER VOLVO 960'S OF SIMILAR VINTAGE AS CONSUMER REPORTS HAS FOUND AND ALSO AS I HAVE PERSONALLY FOUND TO BE THE CASE.
NHTSA complaint #747584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER DID NOT HELP CONSUMER. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #875493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THERMOSTAT WAS STICKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, WHEN CONSUMER GOT VEHICLE BACK, HE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE THE COOLANT CAP AND RESERVOIR WERE NOT HOLDING PRESSURE. RADIATOR NECK WAS BROKEN. IGNITION COILS HAD HAIR LINE FRACTURES. INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED REPLACED. BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. BATTERY FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #875034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AUGUST 1995 CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALER AS BRAKES WERE NOISY AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS MUSHY. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE MILEAGE - 14349. SEPTEMBER, 1996 THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGAIN TRAVELING TOO FAR DOWN ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATION. REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. MILEAGE - 34875. DECEMBER 1996 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT STOPLIGHT IN 45 MPH ZONE ON DRY PAVEMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD GRINDING AND VIBRATION. CAR TRAVELED THROUGH LIGHT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE, NO REPAIRS PERFORMED. MILEAGE - 39021. MARCH 1997 BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION. CAR WENT THROUGH STOPLIGHT. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE CALIPER, BRAKE FLUID, BLED THE BRAKE LINES. MILEAGE - 40283. MARCH 1998 BRAKES LOUD, MUSHY WITH VIBRATION AND SHUDDER. DEALER REPLACED REAR DISCS AND PADS. MILEAGE - 47557. JULY 1998 BRAKES VIBRATING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. MILEAGE - 49297. MAY 1999 BRAKES GRINDING AND VIBRATING. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS, RECOMMENDED REPLACING REAR BRAKE ROTORS. MILEAGE - 57711. JULY 6, 1999 DEALER REPLACED REAR ROTORS AND PADS AS RECOMMENDED. JULY 20, 1999 BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD GRINDING AND VIBRATION. CAR TRAVELED THROUGH STOP SIGN IN 25 MPH ZONE. DEALER CLEANED FRONT WHEEL SENSORS. COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. MILEAGE - 59675.
NHTSA complaint #711154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
AUGUST 1995 CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALER AS BRAKES WERE NOISY AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS MUSHY. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE MILEAGE - 14349. SEPTEMBER, 1996 THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGAIN TRAVELING TOO FAR DOWN ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATION. REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. MILEAGE - 34875. DECEMBER 1996 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT STOPLIGHT IN 45 MPH ZONE ON DRY PAVEMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD GRINDING AND VIBRATION. CAR TRAVELED THROUGH LIGHT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE, NO REPAIRS PERFORMED. MILEAGE - 39021. MARCH 1997 BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION. CAR WENT THROUGH STOPLIGHT. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE CALIPER, BRAKE FLUID, BLED THE BRAKE LINES. MILEAGE - 40283. MARCH 1998 BRAKES LOUD, MUSHY WITH VIBRATION AND SHUDDER. DEALER REPLACED REAR DISCS AND PADS. MILEAGE - 47557. JULY 1998 BRAKES VIBRATING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. MILEAGE - 49297. MAY 1999 BRAKES GRINDING AND VIBRATING. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS, RECOMMENDED REPLACING REAR BRAKE ROTORS. MILEAGE - 57711. JULY 6, 1999 DEALER REPLACED REAR ROTORS AND PADS AS RECOMMENDED. JULY 20, 1999 BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD GRINDING AND VIBRATION. CAR TRAVELED THROUGH STOP SIGN IN 25 MPH ZONE. DEALER CLEANED FRONT WHEEL SENSORS. COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. MILEAGE - 59675.
NHTSA complaint #711154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED AND ROTORS WARPED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES FAILED AND ROTORS WARPED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON UNLESS THE BRAKE RELEASE BUTTON IS HELD DOWN. DEALER HAS REPLACED IT TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #852202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #848681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
WHILE BRAKING THE PEDAL ON OCCASIONS WILL HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #543497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING WHEN NO PROBLEM FOUND IN SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #543497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #543047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
OUR 960 HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE WARPING OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY. TODAY (12/30/98) IS THE FOURTH TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH VOLVO 960'S AND THAT IT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND/OR INJURIES IF NOT REPAIRED ON ALL VEHICLES LIKE OUR 960. THE WARPED ROTORS CAUSE EXCESSIVE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND VIBRATION IN THE CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION WHICH MIGHT MITIGATE THE BRAKES EFFECTIVENESS IN SOME CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #701742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO AN ENBANKMENT.
NHTSA complaint #832152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING A RUMBLING AND PULSATING NOISE APPEARED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AND BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO FUNCTION. DEALER CONTACTED ,AND STATED THAT THE DRUMS WERE WARPED DUE TO NORMAL DRIVING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #828712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
WHILE DRIVING A RUMBLING AND PULSATING NOISE APPEARED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AND BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO FUNCTION. DEALER CONTACTED ,AND STATED THAT THE DRUMS WERE WARPED DUE TO NORMAL DRIVING AND SHOULD BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #828712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT TO PERFORM ACCURATELY.
NHTSA complaint #533364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.