← New search

1990 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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 740 years →

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: 6 of 47 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports
Clear category filter
200,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD A…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10816574

170,000 miles · Jun 26, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10730707

65,000 miles · Mar 12, 2010
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A S…

Read full complaint

RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A SUPER HIGH SPEED REVERSE (ON ITS OWN FROM ZERO TO PERHAPS 40 MPH?) WHILE MY FOOT WAS JAMMED IN TERROR ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BEFORE I SMASHED INTO A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I SOLD THE CAR LONG AGO, BUT THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I LOVE VOLVO AND STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE SAFE CARS, SO I REGRET TO BRING THIS UP.

NHTSA ODI #10319236

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AND SHIFTED THE GEAR, WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE, FROM PARK MODE TO REVERS MODE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED IT, THE CAR TOOK OFF IN FULL SPEED BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS CRAZY, HITTING A CAR AND A PASSENGER THAT WAS COMING …

Read full complaint

IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AND SHIFTED THE GEAR, WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE, FROM PARK MODE TO REVERS MODE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED IT, THE CAR TOOK OFF IN FULL SPEED BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS CRAZY, HITTING A CAR AND A PASSENGER THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR. AS MY CAR HIT THE 2ND VEHICLE'S OPEN DOOR, IT BOUNCED FORWARD, ALSO IN FULL SPEED. BY THIS TIME, I SHIFTED THE GEAR TO PARK MODE IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW AND HIT A SUV AND AS THE AIRBAG BROKE, MY CAR STOPPED. THE SUV WAS THEN SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF IT. BOTH CARS WERE EMPTY BUT THE PASSENGER FROM THE FIRST CAR WAS BADLY BRUISED IN HER SIDE AND KNEE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAD OCCURED AND THE TIRE MARKS REMAINED FROM THE STARTING LOCATION TO THE END BECAUSE I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE ALL THE TIME, NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW UNINTENTIONALLY. SINCE IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL CASE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR YET AND I WILL PROBABLY TOTAL THAT CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10185465

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE AT 20MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED TO 50-60MPH. BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE TO SLOW ACCELERATION. VEHICLE FLEW OVER CURB, INTO PARK CRASHING INTO TREE. THANKFULLY, AIRBAG DEPLOYED SAVING ELDERLY DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740135

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO TURN AROUND A CURVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED VOLVO. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879198

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. DRIVER SITTING IN A CARPOOL PICKUP LINE WITH CAR TURNED OFF. DRIVER STARTED CAR IN ORDER TO MOVE IT FORWARD ABOUT 25 FEET( THEN THE INTENTION WAS TO TURN IT OFF AND SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES UNTIL SCHOOL GOT OUT). DRIVER PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT TO GIVE CAR SOME GAS AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD,…

Read full complaint

UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. DRIVER SITTING IN A CARPOOL PICKUP LINE WITH CAR TURNED OFF. DRIVER STARTED CAR IN ORDER TO MOVE IT FORWARD ABOUT 25 FEET( THEN THE INTENTION WAS TO TURN IT OFF AND SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES UNTIL SCHOOL GOT OUT). DRIVER PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT TO GIVE CAR SOME GAS AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD, ENGINE COMPLETLY REVED. TRIED TO JAM ON BRAKES BUT THE CAR ENGINE STILL TOTALLY REVED. SMASHED INTO FORD EXPEDITION IN FRONT OF ME. AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING STOMACH ONLY.

NHTSA ODI #734869

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH THE DRIVERS FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN THE TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842344

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #536805

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE WAITING IN LINE PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 50MPH. APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING, WHEN VEHICLE HIT THE WALL THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE ONCE IT STARTED ACCELERATING.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #813202

Official recalls

2

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.

90V165000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Sep 6, 1990

FUEL DAMPER LOCATED BEHIND THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL RAIL MAY BE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. OVER TIME, THE SOLDER JOINTS COULD ALLOW A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL TO LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE,COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL DAMPER.

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