1986 Volvo 240: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
155,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. 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
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Tires: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
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). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10031239 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AFTER DRIVING AT LEAST 12 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992940 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
I OWNED A 1986 240 GL VOLVO 4 DOOR SEDAN. ONE NIGHT LAST MONTH MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AND WITHIN A BLOCK OF OUR HOUSE SHE NOTICED A FIRE ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. I CONTACTED VOLVO USA AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER THEY HAD AN "EXPERT" INSPECT OUR CAR. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME A WRITTEN REPORT. THE EXECUTIVE, JOSEPH ([email removed]) CALLED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE SAYING THAT WE HAD TOO LARGE OF A FUSE IN THE FUSE BLOCK AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I'VE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TELL THEM THAT TOO LARGE OF A FUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567284 · 2002-09-03 (September 3, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.(NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.(OHIO CRASH TRAFFIC REPORT)*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 738530 · 2000-12-30 (December 30, 2000)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 967865 · 1995-06-28 (June 28, 1995)
ALL FOUR SHOULDER SEAT BELTS JAM IN RETRACTOR AREA W/DRIVERS BELT BEING REPLACED. OTHER THREE STILL HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 984454 · 1996-05-14 (May 14, 1996)
SUDDEN AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES AFTER RECALL (86V-129). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984454 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V129000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1986-09-15 (September 15, 1986)
IN THE EVENT OF A LOW SPEED FRONTAL IMPACT, ENGINE MOVEMENT COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE SLEEVE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE ADJUSTING FITTING AND NOT RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION OR IDLE POSITION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WOULD RESULT, MAKING CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN A POST COLLISION ENVIRONMENT, WHICH CAN CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR INJURIES.
Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗