1990 Volvo 740: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
115,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 31 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 29.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 25 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 | 7 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
1995: 7; 1996: 6; 2000: 5; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 2; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10009993 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
THE REAR WHEEL CRACKED IN HALF, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044474 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066180 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152406 · 2006-03-10 (March 10, 2006)
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,…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185465 · 2007-03-18 (March 18, 2007)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10185465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319236 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358963 · 2010-10-03 (October 3, 2010)
NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES FALL PART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10730707 · 2015-06-26 (June 26, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730707 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V165000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
Reported: 1990-09-06 (September 6, 1990)
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.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE,COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL DAMPER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V075000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1991-05-06 (May 6, 1991)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: INSTALL LABELS TO INSTRUCT THE USER IN PROPER SAFETY BELT ROUTING; ALSO REPLACE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗