1987 Volvo 740 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 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 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
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 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 0 |
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: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 7 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 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1995: 3; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 551208 · 2000-03-06 (March 6, 2000)
WHEN CONSUMER USED KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SOON AFTER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES, DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765458 · 2002-08-10 (August 10, 2002)
THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS TOTALLY DEGRADED, CAUSING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE WORST BEING OVERPOWER TO THE FUEL INJECTORS CAUSING TOTAL GASOLINE FLOODING OF THE CYLINDERS AND DUMPING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT ALL VOLVO'S FROM 1983-1987 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER FIXED IT. GASOLINE DUMPING IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZZARD, IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN SMOKING IN THE CAR, OR S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724555 · 2000-06-26 (June 26, 2000)
ON 6/18/00 I BOUGHT A VOLVO FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DEALER. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO REVERSE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT , I TOOK IT BACK TO FIND OUT THAT HE WAS NOT REAL DEALER, AND THAT HE LIED TO MY CREDIT CARD HOLDER SAYING THAT I BOUGHT AUTO PARTS WHEN I BOUGHT A CAR. HE SAYS THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS (FUSES, REAR LEFT LIGHT,)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 741321 · 2001-02-22 (February 22, 2001)
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WISPS OF FOUL-SMELLING SMOKE ISSUED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I PARKED THE CAR AND EVACUATED THE OCCUPANTS. THE CAR RESTARTED BY ITSELF, RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN STALLED. DURING THIS TIME, FIRE SPREAD FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ENGULFED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CARGO AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741321 at NHTSA ↗