1997 Volvo 960 Consumer Reviews

Safe Luxo wagon

Written by: David B on 09/01/2008

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Wagon

Review

We purchased our 960 wagon because my uncle got 375k miles out of his 93 960 wagon, so I figured there must be something to be said about the build quality and the reputation of Volvo. This car is a comfort on long drives and handles surprisingly well for a wagon. The big soft leather heated seats are wonderful and welcoming on cold days. This car is very classy and understated. We have not had any serious repairs other than routine service. Remember as with any European luxury car, you have to pay to play. If you want a car that you can feel really good about driving your family around in and not worry about who will steal or scratch it this is the car.

Favorite Features

I love the smoothness of the engine, the extremely comfortable leather seats, and the very heavy ride. You feel like very safe. Turning radius is the best I have ever experienced. Note: Drive a 960 first, then drive any newer Volvo and you will see what Volvo was before company ownership changed.

Suggested Improvements

The cup holders were designed as an after thought or by those who are never thirsty. The climate control seems to need much better improvement. Nothing is ever perfect but I can live with these short comings. None of the newer Volvos can even come close.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Volvo tried and true

Written by: Eric on 02/08/2008

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I am a new Volvo owner as of this year and would buy another one for sure! This car amazes me every day because it is so reliable. Smooth power, nice comfort and awesome lighting! I will say that brakes are an issue but who can complain with the crap out on the market today. Oh, and real crap cupholders!

Favorite Features

Lighting, turning radius, room, stereo, smooth power.

Suggested Improvements

Door leather, cup holders, brakes, ash tray, exhaust hangers.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Sunroof & Brakes

Written by: Larry on 09/27/2006

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

This is my third Volvo. I have been VERY disappointed with the poor quality sun roof. After having it repaired five times (three under warranty) I finally gave up. In addition, this car eats brake pads and ended up needing new pads every 9-12 months. Cup holders in interior are a joke.

Favorite Features

Overall, solid car, including Volvo safety!

Suggested Improvements

Improve sunroof quality. Add some reasonable cup holders.

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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poor build quality

Written by: herb c on 07/10/2005

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I bought this car used in late 2003. I had many problems with the car such as sunroof and trunk leaks that my mechanic couldn't locate (and they're volvo mechanics) and numerous other problems such as replacing the evaporator, compressor, power seats, etc... The car's engine and ride are very good but that's it. The car was in the shop probably every 3 weeks. I finally traded it in on a used Acura which is great. I've owned Volvos since 1986 and I'm not impressed with their build quality.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Build quality needs to be improved alot.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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safe

Written by: Cheshiresmile on 11/15/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

This is my third Volvo. I buy them for safety. It may be my last though. I am tired of mystery bits of plastic falling off constantly. I've replaced the sunroof twice and the roof still leaks. The cup holders are useless. The leather on the doors is pulling off. The brakes need replacing 1-2 times a year. the driver's visor won't stay up and there is no way to repair it without replacement. It is a comfortable ride and I love the look of the interior. The turning radius is impressive for a car this big and heavy.

Favorite Features

interior looks turning capabilities safety features

Suggested Improvements

fix the "little" stuff - they start to add up to one big annoyance. makes me question the quality issue.

2 out 4 people found this review helpful

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1997 Volvo 960

Written by: dbange on 10/25/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

A very reliable car that exemplifies excellent design and workmanship that provides a true luxury vehicle.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Poor reliability & expensive to maintain

Written by: jll on 06/19/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I gave up on trying to fix all the problems with this car and finally traded it in. The reliability is horrible, everything and anything broke. Sunroof stopped working, A/C broke on multiple occassions, keyless entry broke multiple times (too expensive to repair, I didn't bother to fix the last time), power steering fluid leaking, had to replace brake pads frequently. Random things would break off as well - cup holders, the door hinge for the gas cap, random pieces of plastic and rubber would fall on my head, the leather on the door panel is bubbling. It only had 62k miles on it, so I didn't drive it excessively either. I will never buy another Volvo!

Favorite Features

seats are comfortable, spacious interior, great turning radius, large trunk, feels very safe to drive

Suggested Improvements

cup holders are horrible, gas mileage has increasingly gotten worse, heated front seats buttons are easily turned on by accident, needs better reliability by far!!

3 out 6 people found this review helpful

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I suggest this car to anyone interested.

Written by: JessicaK on 05/05/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

My family is a Volvo family; we currently own 4. I love the Volvo 960 that I have. It is comfortable, sharp looking, and something that you feel safe driving. Unfortunately, I recently ran into some financial difficulty and had to put it on the market. I'm going to cry when it goes. It is an awesome car and I suggest it to anyone who is interested. I was actually put into this car by my mom. She wanted something safe and reliable for me. Volvo is 'safest car in America' and that is the truth!

Favorite Features

Moon roof, heated seats, memory controls on seats, lighted mirrors.

Suggested Improvements

make the hole from the backseat to the trunk a little bit bigger. sometimes it was just a little too small to haul anything with.

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Nice Upgrade From 740 Wagon

Written by: vlvwgn on 04/30/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Wagon

Review

I have had a 740 Wagon for over eight years and put 110,000 miles on it after buying it with 50,000 miles. When I needed to look for another wagon in early 2004, the 960 wagon I found was the perfect car. Although the 1997 960 has 125,000 miles, its engine is very smooth and powerful and the luxury ammenities are a big step up from the 740. This car still has another 75,000 - 100,000 miles left on it. I think the late 90's Volvo's get a bad rap for quality, but in the end, they just keep working. Great family car at a great price!

Favorite Features

The leather seats are absolutely perfect for my daily business trips, the fog lights provide great additional nighttime visibilty and the color mathced roof rack is a nice touch over the V70s black only option

Suggested Improvements

Better door panel leather trim.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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This car is a nightmare

Written by: fredism on 02/10/2004

Vehicle

1997 Volvo 960 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I have repaired this car like I was made out of money. The sunroof repaired 4 times. Brakes every 20000 miles, This car cost me 2500 a year to repair. The engine and tranny worked fine. It was millions of little things like oil leaks. air conditioner. I would never buy another Volvo in my life.

Favorite Features

It performed admirably when rear ended by a Suburban. Unfortunately it wasn't totalled

Suggested Improvements

Get some descent engineers and fix the crap that breaks all the time.

1 out 5 people found this review helpful

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