10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,875 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #8

Jan 022004

960 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles
Twice, in my 1996 Volvo 960, I experienced sudden acceleration. In both circumstances I was on a highway and it was late at night. I was unable to slow my car down in order to take an exit ramp. I eventually put the car in neutral and turned it off. I was able to stop the car safely, but these were the most frightening driving experiences of my life. After the first incident, my dealership replaced the accelerator cable (which appeared normal) and replaced my brakes (which I destroyed trying to stop the car). After the second incident (two weeks later), the dealership disconnected the cruise control. The problem has not reoccurred. I had never used the cruise control on that car.

- Plaistow, NH, USA

problem #7

Apr 102000

960

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving on highway at 55mph on cruise control, came to a sharp curve and applied brakes. Trying to reduce speed, vehicle lurched forward/faster and hit the curve sign. Upon impact, neither front air bags nor side air bags deployed. Contacted manufacturer.

- Palm Springs, CA, USA

problem #6

Sep 031999

960

  • miles
After reapair of the throttle plate the vehicle experienced sudden acceleration because a rubber piece from the air hose, which lead to the throttle, making it stick open. Nlm

- New York, NY, USA

problem #5

Oct 211999

(reported on)

960

  • miles
Throttle plate was sticking causing rough idle. Nlm

- New York, NY, USA

problem #4

Sep 031999

960

  • miles
I am the owner of a 1996 Volvo 960. I am writing because of a terrifying experience I had with 3 friends while driving on a trip from New York to Ohio. Our trip began on Friday, September 3 at 3:00. I had just had the vehicle serviced at bay ridge Volvo two evenings before. One problem they corrected was a rough idle I had when starting the car. They told me the throttle plate was sticking a little, so they unstuck it. I had picked up the car on Thursday, and just drove it home. We were 15 miles outside of the city, on interstate 280 in New Jersey, near exit 4 (laurel road.) we were going up a long hill and I let my foot up off the accelerator and noticed that the car didn't immediately slow down as it should. My concern grew when as we crested the hill, and began going leveling out, the car was speeding up by itself. I checked to see if the cruise control was on, but it wasn't. then I pumped the accelerator, to see if maybe it was sticking, but it was not. My friends began to realize what was happening and one of them said I should pull off at the next exit. I vainly attempted to put cruise control on to control the speed, but it wouldn't work. I then shifted the car into neutral, at which point the engine raced, so I put it back into drive. I had my foot down constantly on the brake to keep the car from going too fast. I started to pull off at the next exit, then realized that to my horror I couldn't slow down, even with the brake all the way down. I quickly got back on the interstate, luckily there was no one in the way. I quickly thought to turn off the engine as I pulled off onto the emergency lane, and I was able to safely stop the car. As we came to a stop there was smoke and a burned rubber smell coming from the brakes. My three friends and I were almost propelled to our deaths driving what is supposedly the safest car on the road.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #3

Sep 111997

(reported on)

960

  • miles
Fast idle doing cold start; upon putting foot on brake to shift gears, brake pedal drops, allowing right tip of driver's foot to hit accelerator and vehicle jumps backwards when shiftiing into reverse.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #2

Apr 041996

960

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Owner said that the car accelerated while his foot was on the brake.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

problem #1

Jan 281997

(reported on)

960

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Upon starting, then placing into drive gear, suddenly vehicle accelerated full throttle out of control, ABS would't allow to brake, then suddenly stopped on it's own, mfr instructed dealer to disconnect coolant sensor.

- Madera , CA, USA