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1990 Volvo 240

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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 20 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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129,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrashFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 240 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE BAY AREA. AS SOON AS SHE SHIFTED FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT AP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 240 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE BAY AREA. AS SOON AS SHE SHIFTED FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT MADE A HARD LEFT TURN TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE SHOP AND CRASHED INTO A WALL INSTEAD. THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY BECAME FILLED WITH WHITE SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER. THE VEHICLE ONLY CAME TO A STOP DUE TO THE OBSTRUCTIONS BUT WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER, AND THE WALL HAD TO BE OPENED IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CONTACT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS REMOVED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ANY FURTHER DUE TO THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE WALL. THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE BUT BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK, REFUSED MEDICAL TRANSPORT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI #10652550

129,577 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GLASS DOORS OF THE AUTO DEPARTMENT AND THROUGH THE BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE DIAGNOSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GLASS DOORS OF THE AUTO DEPARTMENT AND THROUGH THE BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 01/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF.*JS

NHTSA ODI #10650380

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816548

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1997
Electrical System

ECM COMPUTER UNIT FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE STALL.

NHTSA ODI #519583

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1997
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS SO OTHER CARS WOULDN'T HIT THEM. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION, AND IT COULD STO…

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CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS SO OTHER CARS WOULDN'T HIT THEM. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION, AND IT COULD STOP AT ANYTIME. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813907

Mileage unknown · May 25, 1997
Electrical System

COMPUTER COMMAND CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #518947

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLED.

NHTSA ODI #520138

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

EA94015 · Inadvert. Air Bag Deploys

Opened Apr 20, 1994 · Closed Oct 12, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

There is no summary currently available