The 1990 Volvo 740 has 2 safety recalls and 47 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (14 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints47filed by owners
Crashes · fires16 · 5reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths8 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
NHTSA recall 91V075000 · May 6, 1991 · 485 vehicles
Problem: SAFETY BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO BE ROUTED UNDER A DIAGONAL CROSS BRACE DURING FASTENING. THE INSTRUCTIONAL LABELS FOR THE BELT ROUTING ARE INADEQUATE, AND CAN RESULT IN INADVERTENT RELEASE OF THE BELT BUCKLE.
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SAFETY BELT MISUSE COULD CAUSE THE SEAT OCCUPANT TO FACE GREATER RISK OF INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF AN INADVERTENT RELEASE OF THE SAFETY BELT OCCURRED.
Fix: INSTALL LABELS TO INSTRUCT THE USER IN PROPER SAFETY BELT ROUTING; ALSO REPLACE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.
Problem: FUEL DAMPER LOCATED BEHIND THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL RAIL MAY BE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. OVER TIME, THE SOLDER JOINTS COULD ALLOW A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL TO LEAK.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE,COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: REPLACE FUEL DAMPER.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
740
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
740 Wagon
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
740
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740 Wagon
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740 Wagon
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740 Wagon
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740 Wagon
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
740 16-Valve
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
740 16-Valve Wagon
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control
14
10
0
4
170,000 mi
Air bags Frontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module
9
4
0
3
—
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables; Wiring › Front underhood
7
0
5
1
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline
5
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Power assist › Hydraulic
4
2
0
1
—
Power train Automatic transmission
2
0
0
0
—
Wheels Rim
2
1
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
2
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front › Shock absorber
2
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Retractor
2
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Hood
2
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting Tail lights
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Dec 13, 2015 · 200,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryVehicle speed control TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Jun 24, 2015 · 170,000 miles · crashVehicle speed control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Jan 1, 2005 · 100,000 milesSeat belts NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES FALL PART. *TR
Apr 15, 1996 · 65,000 milesVehicle speed control RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A SUPER HIGH SPEED REVERSE (ON ITS OWN FROM ZERO TO PERHAPS 40 MPH?) WHILE MY FOOT WAS JAMMED IN TERROR ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BEFORE I SMASHED INTO A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FOUND NO…
Mar 13, 2007 · crash · 1 injuryVehicle speed control IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AND SHIFTED THE GEAR, WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE, FROM PARK MODE TO REVERS MODE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED IT, THE CAR TOOK OFF IN FULL SPEED BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS CRAZY, HITTING A CAR AND A PASSENGER THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR. AS MY CAR HIT THE 2ND VEHICLE'S OPEN DOOR, IT BOUNCED FORWARD, ALSO IN FULL SPEED. BY THIS TIME, I SHIFTED THE GEAR TO PARK MODE IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW AND HIT A SUV AND AS THE AIRBAG BROKE, MY CAR STOPPED. THE SUV WAS THEN SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF IT. BOTH CARS WERE EMPTY BUT THE…
Jan 18, 2006 · 100,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING OVER A HILL AT 45 MPH, A DEER ENTERED THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEER. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT STRIKING TREES. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN WHO DETERMINED, BASED ON THE SPEED AND ANGLE THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB
Apr 11, 2004Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly THE RADIATOR OPENING TO WHICH THE HOSE ATTACHES [FOR RETURN OF THE COOLANT TO THE ENGINE] CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE RADIATOR WHERE THE HOSE ATTACHES. THE FAILURE IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY IMPACT OR OTHER EXTERNAL FORCES. THE PLASTIC OUT OF WHICH THE RADIATOR IS MADE IS EITHER DEFECTIVE OF INADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM TOLD THAT NO REPAIR IS POSSIBLE. THE ENTIRE RADIATOR MUST BE REPLACED.
Sep 13, 2003 · fireElectrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables VEHICLE FIRE AS A RESULT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.*MR VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AT WORK FOUR HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED UPON DISCOVERING IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME THAT NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF THE BATTERY CABLES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEARNED OF A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE 740 MODELS. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTER CABLE CAME TOGETHER AND RAN DOWN A RUBBER TUB THAT SECURED THE INTER FRAME. AT THE END OF THE RUBBER TUBE THE POSITIVE CABLE RAN ACROSS THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER TO THE STARTER. THE NEGATIVE BATTERY…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA94015 · opened Apr 20, 1994 · closed Oct 12, 1994 · led to recall 94V185000INADVERT. AIR BAG DEPLOYS There is no summary currently available