Volvo 740 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
130,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 113 complaints (16.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 20.4% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 14.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 6.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Air Bags: 7; Electrical System: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 98 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 | 26 |
| 1996 | 28 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 26; 1996: 28; 2000: 18; 2001: 10; 2002: 7; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10072228 · 2004-05-06 (May 6, 2004)
WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072229 · 2004-05-06 (May 6, 2004)
WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486957 · 1995-06-13 (June 13, 1995)
PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669236 · 2014-12-31 (December 31, 2014)
WHILE BRAKING AT THIS SPEED OR HIGHER THE CAR STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHACK AND PULL TO THE LEFT. TOOK IT TO VOLVO AND THEY SAID THE CALIBER WAS NOT RELEASING PROPERLY. HAD CALIBERS REPLACED SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR DUE TO A SIMILAR MALFUNCTION. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 205,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669236 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 ↗
Owner report 10662195 · 2014-12-04 (December 4, 2014)
I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST, KNOCKING ME UNCONSCIOUS AND DAMAGING MY RIGHT EYE AND BREAST AND CAUSING CHEMICAL BURNS ON MY FACE AND NECK. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND FOLLOWUP THE FOLLOWING DAY BY EYE SURGEONS AND RETINA SPECIALISTS. I SUSTAINED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT EYE WHICH RESULTED IN A BLIND-SPOT. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE OR WORK FOR A WEEK. I REQUIRED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS…
Owner-reported narrative. 163,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10662195 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 567676 · 2002-09-30 (September 30, 2002)
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH AN CAUSED ACCIDENT.(OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT 10-89-312) *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974126 · 1995-10-30 (October 30, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS, DUE TO LH CONTROL UNIT FAILURE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR. TT *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734121 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
IN MAY 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR EITHER NOT STARTING, AND IF IT DID START IT WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME. THIS SEEMS SIMULAR TO THE INCIDENT WITH THE RECENT COURT ORDERED RECALL OF THE FORD VEHICLE WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION UNIT WHICH CAUSES THE CARS TO STALL AT ANY TIME. IN MY SITUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE ISOLATED DOWN TO A SINGLE ITEM. THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING WAS NEVER DUPLICATED BY THE VOLVO DEALER THAT LOOKED AT IT. THEY KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONE OF THRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734121 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1986: 4; 1987: 3; 1988: 2; 1989: 1; 1990: 2; 1991: 1; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1995: 0; 1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2002: 0