SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1988 Volvo 240

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
198512
19866
198710
198817
198920
199017
1991
Compare all 240 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tires
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
102,000 miles · Jan 10, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1988 VOLVO 240 DL. THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN HE SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW OIL LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME WHERE HE FOUND THAT THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL HAD…

Read full complaint

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1988 VOLVO 240 DL. THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN HE SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW OIL LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME WHERE HE FOUND THAT THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE PART FROM THE DEALER AND REPAIRED IT. *AK UPDATED 02/13/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10178287

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP89010 · Brake Performance

Opened Jun 28, 1989 · Closed Nov 16, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PERFORMANCE