Most common 1997 Volvo 960 problems
Share of the 20 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Volvo 960:
Inadvertent side air bag deployment
What 1997 Volvo 960 owners say
Engine & cooling
Check engine light came on then low coolant light. Suddenly lost power due to engine failure. It seized up due to overheating. Temperature gauge never registered hot. Radiator neck broke off at neck causing lost of coolant. Engine ruined. Dealer will not replace claiming thermostat stuck even though they couldn't prove this.
With no indication of overheating the engine overheated and was destroyed. The only idiot light to come on was the check engine light and that was after black smoke was coming from the engine. The temperature gauge never registered outside of the normal range and no other warning lights were activated. The engine needs to be replaced according to Volvo but this is not covered under my extended warranty because they state it does not matter that the gauges malfunctioned and they can not be tested anyway because the car can not be started.
Air bags
Consumer was involved in a collision, and airbags did not deploy. Vehicle hit a tree, and had frontal impact. Consumer sustained injuries. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated vehicle had preformed up to standard.
Consumer had an accident during rain storm and air bags did not deploy. Hit tree with frontal impact. Contacted Volvo, and Volvo replied that vehicle performed the way it should had.
Brakes
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. …
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.
1997 Volvo 960 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Volvo 960 a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 960 rates better than average: 60% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 960 at the same age. It is one of the best 960 years by this measure. 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 1997 Volvo 960?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the air bags (4) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 1997 Volvo 960 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Volvo 960. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 1997 Volvo 960 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 101,000 miles; 33% 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.