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1996 problems

FaultScore report

1996 Volvo WIA problems

Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 1996 Volvo WIA with NHTSA between 1998 and 2014. The largest single group is the suspension. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 3 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Volvo WIA All 1996 cars

FaultScore 54/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Volvo WIA.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 69: Against the median year of the Volvo WIA. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 29: 5.7% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported: Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1996 compares with every other Volvo WIA

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 3 29 35 12 4 7

89 93 95 96 97 98 99

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

What breaks on a 1996 Volvo WIA

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Suspension 5 14.3%

Equipment & Accessories 4 11.4%

Steering 4 11.4%

Median failure at 200,000 miles

Electrical System 4 11.4%

Engine & Cooling 4 11.4%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Brakes 3 8.6%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 5.7%

Body & Structure 2 5.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.7%

Other & Unspecified 1 2.9%

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 2.9%

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.9%

Lights 1 2.9%

Airbags 1 2.9%

When owners complained

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.

Feb 1998 peak 18 Jun 2014

NHTSA investigations into the 1996 Volvo WIA

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.

PE99018 Opened 3 Mar 1999 Closed 14 Sep 1999 SUSPENSION

TRUCK ROLLOVER CRASHES

ODI HAS RECEIVED A FLEET REPORT WHICH ALLEGES THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE SUBJECT TRACTORS CONTRIBUTES TO A LOW SPEED ROLLOVER

Recalls on the 1996 Volvo WIA

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

02V238000 9 Sep 2002

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TWO TAIL LAMPS, BACK-UP LAMP,AND LICENSE TAG LAMP WERE MOUNTED ON INSUFFICIENTLY RIGID MOUNTS.

Risk: IT MAY NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER OF A REARWARD APPROACHING VEHICLE TO HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE LAMPS.

98V255000 14 Oct 1998

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION:LINES AND FITTINGS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL VALVE SUPPLY LINE WAS NOT PLUMBED THROUGH AN AIR PRESSURE PROTECTION VALVE. IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE, THERE WOULD BE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE 'B' SYSTEM AIR RESERVOIR THAT SUPPLIES AIR PRESSURE FOR THE FRONT STEER AXLE BRAKES.

Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

97V196004 31 Dec 1997

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DESIGN LEVEL 1, ROCKWELL FF980 SERIES FRONT AXLE. THE FRONT AXLE HUB FLANGE CAN DEVELOP CRACKS DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS.

Risk: CRACKS IN A HUB FLANGE CAN RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.

97V023000 24 Feb 1997

STRUCTURE:BODY

WARNING LABELS IDENTIFYING THE CLIMBING SEQUENCE AND PROCESS WERE OMITTED.

Risk: PERSONS NOT USING THE SEQUENCE AND PROCESS DURING CAB ENTRY OR EXIT OR WHEN USING THE OPTIONAL BACK OF CAB ACCESS MAY SLIP AND/OR FALL CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

96V233004 2 Dec 1996

SUSPENSION:REAR

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Risk: THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

96V095000 23 Mar 1996

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

THE TRACTION SOLENOID EXHAUST CAN BE OBSTRUCTED DUE TO INADEQUATE DRAINAGE AND A BUILD-UP OF ROAD CONTAMINATION BETWEEN THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING. THE OBSTRUCTED EXHAUST PREVENTS THE RELAY VALVE CONTROL AIR PRESSURE FROM VENTING AFTER A DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING TRACTION EVENT.

Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD KEEP THE REAR AXLE SERVICE BRAKES APPLIED WITHOUT ANY BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT BY THE DRIVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

96V038000 22 Feb 1996

STEERING:LINKAGES

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES BUILT WITH A VOLVO 5.7 (12,500 LBS) FRONT STEERING AXLE. DUE TO HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT, THE FRONT STEERING AXLE KING PINS COULD HAVE BROKEN DURING ASSEMBLY. CONTINUED OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A BROKEN KING PIN COULD ALLOW THE PIN TO WORK LOOSE.

Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1998246 21 Dec 1998 8,027 units in Canada

Brakes

On certain vehicles, the air ride suspension control valve supply line is not plumbed through an air pressure protection valve. In the event of an air suspension bag failure, there will be loss of air pressure in the "b" system which supplies air pressure to the front steer axle brakes. This could result in loss of front steer axle brakes and increased stopping distances. Correction: Air pressure protection valve will be installed.

Recall 1997055 20 Mar 1997 1,928 units in Canada

Other

WARNING LABELS IDENTIFYING THE CLIMBING SEQUENCE AND PROCESS (ONE FOOT AND TWO HANDS OR TWO FEET AND ONE HAND) WERE OMITTED WHEN THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED. PERSONS NOT USING THE SEQUENCE AND PROCESS DURING CAB ENTRY OR EXIT MAY BE SUBJECT TO RISK OF SLIP AND/OR FALL. CORRECTION: WARNING LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS.

Recall 1996196 9 Dec 1996 36 units in Canada

Suspension

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NEWAY ANCHORLOK REAR SUSPENSIONS. THE SUSPENSION EQUALIZING BEAM COULD HAVE DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION SHAFTS WHICH COULD FRACTURE INSIDE THE BEAM AND WORK LOOSE FROM THE BEAM. SHOULD THE SHAFT SEPARATE FROM THE BEAM, THE TRANSVERSE BEAM COULD CONTACT THE ROADWAY GENERATING SPARKS. THIS CONDITION MIGHT ALSO AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND CONTROL WHICH COULD POSE A HAZARD TO OTHER USERS OF THE ROADWAY AND ADJACENT PROPERTY. CORRECTION: ALL EQUALIZING BEAMS WITH NON-CONFORMING SHAFTS WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall 1996054 28 Mar 1996 198 units in Canada

Steering

DUE TO HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT, THE KING PIN USED IN THE VOLVO 5.7 (12,500 LB) FRONT STEER AXLE MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE AXLE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A BROKEN KING PIN MAY ALLOW THE PIN TO WORK LOOSE, CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING, AND RESULT IN POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND KING PIN REPLACED IF REQUIRED.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 3 Jun 2014 at 200,000 miles 73546, OK 1 injured

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO WIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 650,000. UPDATED 3/24/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COLLAPSED SPINDLE BEARING. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM A SORE SHOULDER AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN 2005. UPDATED 6/22/2015

NHTSA complaint #10595787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Dec 2006 Saint Clair Shores, MI Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

1996 CONVENTIONAL CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA complaint #10176427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints