Volvo WIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
200,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 25 complaints (64.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 16.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 16.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 16 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 7 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Suspension: 16; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 7; Electrical System: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Service Brakes, Air: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2001: 10; 2002: 11; 2003: 2; 2006: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 565036 · 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, POSSIBLY FAILED. *TT *DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 565303 · 2002-04-22 (April 22, 2002)
THE CLUTCH ALWAYS NEEDS ADJUSTING AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 565049 · 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT DOOR AND THAT THE COMPUTER BOARDS IN THE DASH HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE DASH LED ARE STILL OUT HALF THE TIME. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 565091 · 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
CONSUMER STATES THE TRUCK IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595787 · 2014-06-03 (June 3, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO WIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 650,000. UPDATED 3/24/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COLLAPSED SPINDLE BEARING. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM A SORE SHOULDER AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN 2005. UPDATED 6/22/2015 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 565138 · 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TT ALSO, FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED ADJUSTMENT/ HOOD WAS CRACKED/ THERE WAS A MISSING BOLT IN CROSSMEMBER/ THERE WAS A LEAK UNDER THE DASH/THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED/AIR WHISTLE NOISE IN ENGINE/PULLEY ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT/COOL FILTER REPLACED/ BRAKE BELT REPLACED/ LEFT FRONT BRAKE WAS STICKING/NEW BRAKE SHOES WERE NEEDED/ ALTERNATOR AND STARTER SOLENOID REPLACED/ SPEED CONTROL INOPERABLE DUE TO FAULTY WIRE,/HARNESS TO CRANK SENSOR RUBBED, CAUSING INACTIVE ENGINE CODE AND WIRING HARNESS WAS SHORTING OUT. IN ADDITIO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 565043 · 2001-08-15 (August 15, 2001)
CONSUMER STATES THE JAKE BRAKES COME ON AND THEN GO OFF.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565043 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 2; 1991: 2; 1992: 2; 1993: 2; 1994: 3; 1995: 4; 1996: 7; 1997: 6; 1998: 4; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1