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1989 Volvo 740

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
41Owner complaints

Model-year median: 10

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
198615
198716
198841
198947
199019
19918
1992
Compare all 740 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
15Engine And Engine Cooling
12Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Air Bags
3Equipment
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Tires
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: 1 of 41 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports16 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 VOLVO 740. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 VOLVO 740. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PC VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10239177

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

VEICLE STOPPED, FAILED TO FUNCTION DUE TO FAULTY TIMING BELT. HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850312

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT. HAD STARTED FORWARD WHEN VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING GEAR. THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849602

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #512524

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA ODI #510376

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, SOURCE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES IT APPEARED THE ELECTRICIAL POWER CABLE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE STARTER MOTOR CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #986947

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT CONSTANTLY DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED FOR NO REASON. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE STALLS SOON AFTER BEING STARTED, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GAS TO RESTART VEHICLE, IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART, VEHICLE WAS ONCE REPAIRED, IT WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE AND THEN STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLE…

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THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT CONSTANTLY DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED FOR NO REASON. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE STALLS SOON AFTER BEING STARTED, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GAS TO RESTART VEHICLE, IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART, VEHICLE WAS ONCE REPAIRED, IT WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE AND THEN STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #986590

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE TWICE. ONCE WHEN PARKED AND THE OTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985273

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE PE96-019. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980958

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #539947

Official recalls

1

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.

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

PE96019 · Battery Cable Short

Opened Mar 4, 1996 · Closed May 21, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

BATTERY CABLES MAY SUFFER INSULATION DAMAGE THAT COULD RESULT IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.