Owners have filed 28 complaints on the Volvo WIA, covering 1993–1999. The system named most often is Suspension (11 reports). Worst years by volume: 1997, 1996, 1995; cleanest: 1998, 1999, 1993. 0 reports describe a crash, 1 a fire. On average the car was 3.2 years old when the problem happened.
What breaks on Volvo WIA
Grouped by the system owners named — percentages are shares of all 28 WIA complaints. Open any row for the full reports in owners' own words.
Suspension 11 Read
Consumer states oil cooler went out.*yd. Also the left front wheel assembly fell off, there was a problem with the steer tires and the transmission was replaced
There is constant shaking in front end of vehicle and in steering wheel, at any speed. Dealer has replaced tires and aligned vehicle. Did not remedy the problem. Nlm consumer adds that the vehicle is still shaking violently
When driving at any speed, there is vibration within the frame, tire is worn out. Vechicle isn't staying on track, it keeps going into other lanes. Also, frame is bent. *ak the consumer points out that the appeal forum is helpful but there should be a method for consumers to reach the manufacturers easily. *yh…
Structure 3 Read
When applying the brake there is a vibration in the whole truck
Consumer states vehicle had a wiring harness problem under the dash. (volvo truck 64twia)
Vehicle has problems with the wiring harness under the dash. Consumer is also having problems with the wiring and alternator. *jg (model wia6)
Power Train 3 Read
Transmission jumps out of gear under a load ,this transmission was rebuilt nov 2000 for this problum. It started again in nov.2001. Other owners of this type transmission tell me they have the same problum. There is nothing as dangerous as a truck gearing down on a hill , and having the transmission jump out of gear.…
Vehicle is showing problems with the steer axle tires wearing prematurely requiring annual replacement, there is excessive vibration, the u-joints are wearing out, there are noises coming from the front end (repaired, source unknown),also front axle is too heavy, consumer must regulate by moving the 5th wheel and…
Consumer experiencing problems with transmission, possibly failed. *tt
Steering 3 Read
Consumer complains of problems with the air conditioner being out
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…
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…
Electrical System 3 Read
Noticed noise, upon turning the cab shifted. Then checked the problem out and noticed. The vehicle was looked at by a volvo dealer, and the consumer found out that problem occurred because the weld broke on the elbow which holds the cab to the frame. In addition, replaced alternator/adjusted rear air bags
Consumer stated the truck was experiencing problems with the wiring harness
Consumer states that the steering is sloppy and chunks when turning, the vehicle is greased every week and the u-bolts are checked, a 3 axle alignment was just completed, there is lots of vibration in the cab
Engine And Engine Cooling 2 Read
1996 conventional caught on fire. *ts the fire started in the engine compartment. It was unknown if it was electrical
Consumer states truck is experiencing problems with the dash
Equipment 2 Read
Consumer states the truck will not stay aligned, various parts have been replaced to keep the truck aligned such as the tie rod ends, the tires were replaced, shocks, rear torsion bar, right rear air bag, torqued rod arm, replaced rear spring pins, lead springs, u-bolts, air suspension level valve, and the rear axle…
The drag link and tierod end had to be replaced at 172000 miles
Service Brakes 1 Read
Consumer states there is a problem with the wiring harness under the dash and with the starter
WIA years to avoid — and the clean ones
Complaints per model year. More reports usually means more cars on the road as well as more trouble, so read the crash and fire columns alongside the count.
| Model year | Complaints | Top system | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Service Brakes, Air | — | — | |
| 1998 | Suspension,engine And Engine Cooling,power Train,wheels | — | — | |
| 1997 | Power Train | — | — | |
| 1996 | Electrical System,air Bags,structure | — | 1 | |
| 1995 | Electrical System | — | — | |
| 1993 | Power Train | — | — |
The same model year, different builds
Every complaint carries the first 11 characters of the VIN — plant, year, body and engine. That is a production series, and complaints are spread across them very unevenly.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Distinct production series | 27 |
| Average complaints per series | 1 |
| Worst single series | 2 complaints |
| Average age at failure | 3.2 years |
A model average of 1 hides a worst series at 2. Enter a VIN above to see the numbers for that exact build instead of the model as a whole.
Owners reported these. Find out if yours is one of them.
- Complaints matched to the exact production run, not just the model
- What the car is worth given what tends to fail on it
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF for the pre-purchase inspection
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,100,006 of them, covering 1,982 models built between 1981 and 2026.
A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.
Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the WIA?
By complaint volume, 1997, 1996, 1995 drew the most owner reports. Bear in mind that popular years put more cars on the road, so check the crash and fire columns too.
Which WIA years are the cleanest?
1998, 1999, 1993 have the fewest complaints on file. For recent years that can simply mean the cars are young.
How many complaints does the Volvo WIA have?
28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, covering 1993–1999. Of those, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire.
Are these complaints verified?
No. They are unverified reports from owners. NHTSA publishes them as filed and investigates only a fraction. The value is in the pattern, not in any single report.
Can I check complaints for one specific car?
Yes — enter its VIN above. We match the first 11 characters, which identify the plant, year, body and engine, so you get complaints on that exact production series rather than the whole model.