Volvo 940 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
119,441 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 1998 model years. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 81 complaints (21.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 17; Tires:Tread/Belt: 7; Air Bags: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Tires: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 8
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 59 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 | 14 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 14; 1996: 9; 2000: 15; 2001: 7; 2002: 10; 2003: 2; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 959328 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)
ABS BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE CAUSING FRONTEND AT COLLISION AT 15MPH. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED ABRASIONS TO FACE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959726 · 1995-02-08 (February 8, 1995)
ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE; WAS DRIVING ON DRY WEATHER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND IT FAIL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142852 · 2005-11-16 (November 16, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 91V010000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728190 · 2000-08-16 (August 16, 2000)
THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT AND THE WIRES COUGHT ON FIRE BURNING THE FUEL PUMP AND BOTH ARE LOCATED INSIDE THE GAS TANK. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BLOW UP. MY MECHANIC WAS SURPRISE IT DIDN'T. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SHOWED NO REAL CONCERN. THEY INVESTIGATED THE SITUATION AND SAID, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY TO SHORT OUT. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO EXAMINE IT FURTHER OR RECALL THE PART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS OCCURANCE, THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS WE WERE. WE ARE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057693 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED.*AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FLYWHEEL BROKE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START DURING COLD WEATHER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE ONLY PROBLEM THE DEALER FOUND WAS THAT THE HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 478226 · 1995-01-06 (January 6, 1995)
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER/ENGINE DRAG WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO 4TH GEAR. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489619 · 1995-04-25 (April 25, 1995)
VEHICLE NOT EQUIPPED WITH INTERLOCK SYSTEM, ALLOWING TRANSMISSION TO BE SHIFTED WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500050 · 1995-12-01 (December 1, 1995)
ELECTRICAL BOX IN SEAT SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248513 · 2008-11-11 (November 11, 2008)
1995 VOLVO 940 TURBO ODOMETER SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERATIVE. PROCEEDING THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES IS PRIMARY SAFETY ISSUE. INTERNET INVESTIGATION SHOWS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE. COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT AT THEIR WEB SITE TO ALERT THEM. MAYBE YOU HAVE GREATER ACCESS. ODOMETER APPEARS TO BE MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL DEVICE. COULD NOT DETERMINE REPAIR OR ITS COST. IS THIS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE? AL *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,789 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 858938 · 2000-03-21 (March 21, 2000)
THE SEALS ON THE RACK & PINION STEERING ARE LEAKING FLUID, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC ENTIRE RACK & PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 858938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722081 · 2000-04-29 (April 29, 2000)
THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. NO DEALER HAS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. A CASTER READING, BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP SHOW THAT IF ONE SSTRUT WERE SHORTER, THE SHAKING WOULD STOP. THE CASTERS ARE OFF, THE CAR ALWAYS NEEDS ALIGNED, AND THE TIRES WEAR UNEVENLY. I'LL BE SPENDING THE $2,000 TO FIX IT, BUT THE PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING ONE. VOLVO DENIES ANY RESPONSABILITY FOR 1994 MODELS, NOW THAT THEY ARE OWNED BY FORD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722081 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 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1991: 2; 1992: 0; 1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1998: 0