IllustrationWHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.
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
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
What owners actually said
47 reportsOWNER STATES THAT FOR NO REASON WHILE BACKING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL OWNER IS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT HER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, SHE NOTES THAT DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, IT KEEPS RETURNING. *AK
FRONT SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, THEY KEEP EXPLODING, PUTTING HOLES IN THE HOOD OF VEHICLES, DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. *AK
BATTERY CABLE ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING UNDER THE HOOD FIRE. *AK
OIL LEAK CAUSED BY HEAT/DETERIORATION OF THE O-RING SEALS USED TO SEAL THE OIL FILTER MOUNTING BOSS TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. *AK
AIR BAG SENSOR ONLY STAYES ON WHEN A PROBLEM EXISTS ON THIS SYSTEM DUE TO A FAULTY CRASH SENSOR. *AK
BATTERY CABLE SHORT OUT, BATTERY CABLE SUFFERS INSULATION DAMAGE THAT RESULTED IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, PE96-019A. *AK
TRANSMISSIONS 4TH GEAR DISENGAGEMENT IN OPERATION CONSTANTLY, PREVENTING TRANSMISSION FROM SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR. *DH
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) GOING 25-30 MPH. TT
Official recalls
291V075000 · 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
1EA94015 · 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