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1987 Volvo 740

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: 0 of 15 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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2002
Electrical System

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 THI…

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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 SOMEONE PULLED UP BESIDE ME SMOKING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FIRE AND EXPLOSION. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALLY REPLACED, AND VOLVO SAYS THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, A PROBLEM THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE EXSISTED. IT SEEMS THAT VOLVO EXPERIMENTED WITH INSULATION IN THE EARLY 80S TO MAKE WIRING HARNESSES BIODEGRADEABLE. THAT IS ADMIRABLE, BUT IT WAS ALSO A FAILURE, CREATING MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR VOLVO OWNERS AROUND THE WORLD, AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALL VOLVO'S BUILT IN THIS TIME PERIOD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, BUT IF NOT, ITS A MIRACLE. VOLVO SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THESE THINGS IN THE 80'S WHEN THEY BECAME WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #765458

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

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 AR…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #741321

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #551208

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 1999
Electrical System

WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS NOT ADEQUATELY RATED FOR THE TEMPERTURE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT COMPLETELY OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854306

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Electrical System

THERE IS SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL AND CUTT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850871

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1997
Electrical System

LEFT EMISSION STATION & RADIO DIED; PULLED OVER & LOOKED UNDER HOOD & NOTICED SMOKE & AIR CONDITIONER LINES WERE HOT; TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED PROBLEM W/ELECTRIC WIRE HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT; VEHICLE BURNED 2ND TIME WHILE AT DEALER. (RECALL #87V064000). *AK

NHTSA ODI #817650

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1997
Electrical SystemCrash

OWNER STATES THAT AFTER EXITING HIS VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY THE ENGINE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN, OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809065

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 1995
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

SHORTENING OF AIR FILTER PRE-HEATER DUCT, CAUSING METAL DUCT HOSE TO RUB AGINST THE TURB0-CHARGER HOUSING, RESULTING IN A HOLE IN THE HOUSING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #485826

Official recalls

3

91V075000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

May 6, 1991

SAFETY BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO BE ROUTED UNDER A DIAGONAL CROSS BRACE DURING FASTENING. THE INSTRUCTIONAL LABELS FOR THE BELT ROUTING ARE INADEQUATE, AND CAN RESULT IN INADVERTENT RELEASE OF THE BELT BUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SAFETY BELT MISUSE COULD CAUSE THE SEAT OCCUPANT TO FACE GREATER RISK OF INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF AN INADVERTENT RELEASE OF THE SAFETY BELT OCCURRED.

Remedy: INSTALL LABELS TO INSTRUCT THE USER IN PROPER SAFETY BELT ROUTING; ALSO REPLACE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.

89V204000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Nov 17, 1989

DRIVESHAFT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL TANK AND SCORE AND SCRAPE OUTER SURFACES OF THE TANK AT THE POINT OF CONTACT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A SMALL LEAK COULD DEVELOP WHICH COULD , IN THE PRESENCEOF AN IGNITION SOURCE, RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK AND/OR INSTALL PROTECTIVE DEVICE BETWEEN DRIVESHAFT AND THE TANK.

87V064000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

May 11, 1987

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COULD CHAFE AGAINST AN AIR CONDITIONING PIPE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUIT AND MALFUNCTIONING OF THE ELECTRICALSYSTEM, AS WELL AS CHARRING OF THE WIRING INSULATION, COULD RESULT.

Remedy: RELOCATE WIRING HARNESS AND SECURE WITH A NEW BRACKET AND CLAMP.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.