Most common 1995 Volvo 960 problems
Share of the 57 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo 960 complaints by model year
Best 960 years: 1997. Years to avoid: 1996, 1995. Compare all years →
1995 Volvo 960 recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
The driver's side air bag module May not properly deploy.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1995 Volvo 960:
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
Inadvertent air bag deployment
There is no summary currently available
What 1995 Volvo 960 owners say
Engine & cooling
When sitting in traffic for around about a half hour to an hour vehicle started smoking. Smoke was coming from engine compartment. Cooling fan seized up and overheated, and vehicle caught fire. Consumer contacted dealer. Parts were repaired/ replaced under insurance policy. Please provide any further details.
5/14 - vehicle stalls as crossing intersection, check engine light now on. Able to restart vehicle and had 2 more stalls before arriving at dealer for servicing. 6/13 - while travelling uphill, applied gas and vehicle died with check engine light on. Again returned vehicle for servicing. 7/6 - while travelling on flat road, car stalls with check engine light on. Numerous stalls while driving from friend's home to dealer for servicing. 7/17 - picked car up at dealership, 3 stalls with check engine light on before making it to the main. Car returned to dealer for servicing.
Fuel & propulsion system
The fuel rail on my 1995 Volvo 960 leaks. It leaks at the plug on the end of the rail. It leaks a steady stream of gas that pours over my engine. After reviewing Volvo user forums it appears that this is a common problem for this type of Volvo. It is a severe fire hazard! Why haven't you forced the dealer to issue a recall notice?
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Volvo 960. The contact stated the vehicle had an extremely strong gasoline fuel odor. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure and current mileage was 17,289. Updated 07/21/11 updated 07/28/11
Speed control & acceleration
Dt: the contact's daughter started the vehicle and it accelerated from zero to 40 MPH without depressing the accelerator. The first time the vehicle hit a concrete parking barrier. The vehicle was towed to a service department. The source of the problem could not be determined. The vehicle's body damage was repaired, and the vehicle was returned to service. The acceleration problem occurred once again. This time it caused the driver to crash into a wall. It was taken to a service dealer who stated the incident was caused by a problem within the engine. Updated 12/16/2005 - the dealer later found that the throttle cable housing had separated from the crimped end at the throttle valve. As a result the cable housing had slid out and was hanging up, causing the vehicle to accelerate when in gear.
While driving the vehicle at 30 MPH and with no warning the vehicle accelerated which caused the consumer to lose control of vehicle. Dealer had been contacted on two occasions. The consumer was driving with both hands on the steering wheel when suddenly, without warning, the steering wheel jerked to the right and he/she loss control of the vehicle. The vehicle had gone onto the sidewalk(s), side swiped objects, and collided into a building.
1995 Volvo 960 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Volvo 960 a good car?
Based on 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 960 rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the 960 at the same age. It is one of the 960 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 Volvo 960?
The engine & cooling — 14 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (9) and speed control & acceleration (8).
How many recalls does the 1995 Volvo 960 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1995 Volvo 960, the most recent from November 1, 1994 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo 960?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996 and 1995. See the full Volvo 960 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 Volvo 960 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.