Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Volvo 960, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Electrical system2
- Power train2
- Tires1
- Seats1
- Exterior lighting1
- Parking brake1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
58 first registered in 1994 are on Dutch roads; 28% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde11
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen9
- Band beschadigd8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld6
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse6
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht6
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij5
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
28 cars built in 1994 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 66 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
20 of these cars first registered in 1994 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 306,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
6 1994 cars are on the New Zealand register; 50% arrived as used imports, 50% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1994 Volvo 960.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 1994 Volvo 960: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 602666 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING CYLINDER BLOCK, B6304. *YC |
| 600922 | ADDITIONAL ACTIONS WHEN REPLACING REAR WINDOW. *YC |
| 46381 | NOISE CAN BE CAUSED BY THE LEGROOM ADJUSTMENT LATCH (TRIGGER ARM) PRESSING AGAINST METAL. NOISE CAN ALSO BE CAUSED BY RUDDING BETWEEN PLASTIC PROTECTORS AND THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT SPACER SCREW. |
| 46378 | A COVER PLATE WAS INTRODUCED INTO PRODUCTION DURING SPRING 1995. THIS COVER PLATE WILL HELP PREVENT INGRESS OF WATER/DIRT ONTO THE REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL SURFACE AND/OR THE STARTER. |
| 46376 | TECH DCS GRAM SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS ISSUE DATED 3/20/95. HALIFAX BUILT 940S (PLANT CODE 3), DID NOT HAVE THE NOISE/VIBRATION DAMPER INTRODUCED INTO PRODUCTION CAUSING FUEL SYSTEM NOISE/VIBRATION. |
| 46373 | REDUCED A/C PERFORMANCE WHEN THE ENGINE IS IDLING MAY BE DUE TO THE LOW OR HIGH-SPEED A/C SYSTEM PRESSURE SWITCHES (PRESSOSTAT) STARTING ENGINE COOLANT FAN (FC) AT TOO HIGH A PRESSURE, AND STOPPING IT TOO EARLY. |
| 40058 | VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. HAS DETERMEINED THAT A LIMITED NUMBER OF MODEL YEAR 1964 960 SERIES VEHICLES, WERE PRODUCED WITH FAULTY A AND B INTERIOR TRIM PANELS. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DEALERS ARE TO CONTACT THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO ADVISE THEM OF THE UPGRADE, AND THEN REPLACE THE PANELS AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED SERVICE VISIT. *TW |
| 39766 | VEHICLES, WHEN LEFT IDLING FOR LONG PERIODS MAY, IN SOME CASES DEVELOP IRREGULAR IDLING. *TW |
| 10241661 | COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION. |
| 10241651 | Rubber cushion |
| 10213885 | The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve. |
| 10213883 | ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations |
| 10213882 | Battery Charger/maintainer requirement |
| 10212892 | Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS) |
| 10212891 | VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App |
| 10181041 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10179681 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder |
| 10178503 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10173760 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder |
| 10171676 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10170147 | Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : Service Action Notification Re - Mails GROUP : NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : Product Safety & Compliance United States and Canada 00 325 REFERENCE BULLETINS : DATE : SMB00 - 323 and SMB00 - 323A YEAR MONTH DAY SERVICE SERVICE WARRANTY 2013 02 15 MANAGER WRITER ADMINISTRATOR Service Personnel : Read and initial Page 1 of 1 Volvo monitors completion rates for all service actions and will complete notification re - mails to vehicle owners when necessary . Listed below are the latest notification re - mails . Please refer to SMB 00 - 323 and SMB 00 - 323A |
| 10169394 | This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by |
| 10169393 | This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by |
| 10169391 | Software Installation Policy changes. |
| 10169389 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation