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1992 Volvo 960 problems

The most common problem on the 1992 Volvo 960 is engine and cooling. Its complaint count is close to a typical 960 model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
21
Recalls
0
Service bulletins
72
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
19mpg

The worst 1992 Volvo 960 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    14
  • Electrical
    5
  • Airbags
    1
  • Steering
    1
  • Tires
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    14
  • Electrical
    5
  • Airbags
    1
  • Steering
    1
  • Tires
    1

Recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Defect investigations

Inadvert. Air bag deploysOpened April 20, 1994, closed October 12, 1994

There is no summary currently available

EA94015

Technical service bulletins for the 1992 Volvo 960 72

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 72 bulletins for the 1992 Volvo 960

1992 Volvo 960 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.9L 6‑cylRWD162419

What 1992 Volvo 960 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 15, 2006 · Electrical · MD

1992 volvo 960 series stalled while driving at high speeds. The power windows and locks also ceased functioning when the vehicle stalled. *kb the vehicle jerked prior to stalling. The vehicle battery would go dead if parked one day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice but they were unable to correct the problem.

Filed Sep 6, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · MD

1992 960 stalls while driving. *ts the dealer attempted to remedy the problem. The vehicle continued to stall while driving at high speeds. The vehicle would make a jerking motion before shutting off. The vehicle would also stall while parking. The power windows and door locks malfunctioned. The battery died if the vehicle was parked for 1 day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was determined that there was an electrical drain on the circuit for the power windows and shiftlock circuit.

Filed Sep 24, 2002 · Tires · TX

Problem consisted of tread separation despite proper inflation of 40 psi and maintaining 50 MPH maximum speed limit. In contacting local firestone / bridgestone dealer to claim a replacement by manufacturer warranty for this vehicle safety item, I was informed that the official decision from 'headquarters' was that my warranty claim would not be honored due to the tire being "in a hot trunk for ten years". If this is the official stance of firestone / bridgestone they should provide a written notice to all affected early model volvo owners with this spare tire that their tires have a 'shelf life' and need to be discarded after a period of time despite no outward signs to the contrary. This spare tire has seen limited use as can be seen by the depth of the tread and is not showing any signs of 'dry rot'. In fact, it appears to have been coated with a preservative that has left the tire's exterior flexible and free of any cracks or outward signs of aging. For your reference, the entire dot code on the tire's side wall is wf p7 b2e t441 and there is a notation that the tire was made in spain. I can also provide the federal safety agency with photos of the tire in question via e-mail or ship you the actual tire for your indepth examination if provided a fed-ex or ups account number and a shipping address. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any additonal information or answer any questions you may have. I will be e-mailing the federal safety agency webmaster a transcript of the e-mail communication that has been circulated between firestone / bridgestone, volvo customer service and I.

Filed Apr 5, 2002 · Engine · 24,000 miles · NY

Timing belt failed, dealer replaced the timing belt, drive belt, camshaft sensor and had to rebuild the cylinder head with new valves. *slc *mj *dt ph (daughter lucy picardi on behalf of mother) *jb

Filed Nov 13, 2000 · Engine · PA

The aluminum alloy in the block failed resulting in a line of pinholes in the side of the block which caused low coolant in the radiator, the leak caused the vehicle to loose a gallon of coolant every ten miles causing the radiator to boil rendering the car undriveable, oil was also leaking from block parallel to those bleeding coolant. Nlm

Filed Nov 6, 2000 · Engine · PA

Engine block began leaking first coolant and then oil directly through the side of the block just below the exhaust manifold. Despite efforts to plug the leak, it became so large, a gallon every 10 miltes, that the engine became unusable. We had to replac.

Filed Aug 7, 2000 · Steering · NJ · 1 injury

While driving the vehicle suddenly swerved and resulted in collision with the road barrier.

Filed Jun 22, 2000 · Engine · SC

The timing belt on this vehicle was replaced at 60000 miles service. The service invoice states "replace timing belt and install damper. R/r timing belt and damper as per bulletin" now less than 30,000 miles later the timing belt has broken with estimated repair cost of $ 3000. What is the bulletin they refer to??? Is there an implied warranty for this product replaced per the bulletin??? What is the problem that necessitated the bulletin in the first place??? Note that service bulletin 2003 regarding this vehicle refers to engine replacements on this vehicle and calls for replacement with a 1995 engine incorporating a wider timing belt...... Is there a problem with the factory timing belt or assembly that would cause repeated failures??? Also...the exhaust pipe repeatedly comes apart at the catalytic converter. A friend has the same model volvo...same exhaust pipe problem.

Filed May 8, 2000 · Engine · VT

07/11/99 driving the volvo +/-40 MPH - not under load - & engine quit - metal on metal noise - pulled off roadway & called a wrecker. Timing belt had broken 1,250 miles short of next change. Called volvo of north america - they stated it was a matter btwn me & dealer who last changed the timing belt. This dealer (sonny king volvo, birminghan, al) is now out of business - but work order showed no evidence that the timing belt was replaced - even though the charge for service was exactly what the service manager quoted me for a belt replacement & the rest of the 60,000 mile service. I paid for the maintenance - it was never rendered. Volvo of north america stated "it's a lick on you for not reading your service order." I paid $2,300 for a complete new head & replacement costs. Got the car back in the fall, drove it about 2 weeks and it started spraying oil all over the exhaust system. The local volvo dealer who did the head replacement took the car back - did some repair, at no cost & returned the vehicle within a week. The car never ran correctly and lost coolant everytime it was driven. In november of 1999 - it got so it required more coolant than fuel so I garaged the car until I had time to get it checked out by another volvo shop. Used the vehicle for short (around town) trips - in february - I noticed it was taking on more than a gallon of water to drive 16 miles to work & back - had the volvo trailered back to the volvo shop that changed the head - was informed the aluminum block had cracked and now I need to come up with $7,200 (roughly) for a new block. I can get it down to +/- $4,000 to get a used engine. Volvo of north america again notified and their response to my wife was, "you were lucky to get 100,000 miles out of the car. We don't make that model anymore. This problem is between you and the dealer that changed the head."

Filed May 3, 2000 · Engine · GA

Engine block cracked, causing fuel leakage. Please give any further details.

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Questions about the 1992 Volvo 960

Is the 1992 Volvo 960 reliable?

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1992 Volvo 960, close to a typical 960 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1992 Volvo 960?

Engine and cooling, with 14 complaints. Next is electrical (5).

How many recalls does the 1992 Volvo 960 have?

No recalls on record.

What year does the Volvo 960 have bad engine?

The Volvo 960 model years with the most engine complaints are 1992 (14 complaints) and 1995 (14 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1992 Volvo 960 get?

Official estimates for the 1992 Volvo 960 range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.9L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 16 city and 24 highway.

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