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1991 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: 4 of 19 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

19 reports
248,865 miles · Mar 15, 2016
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740GL (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS, THE LEFT SHOULDER, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH AIR BAG DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740GL (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS, THE LEFT SHOULDER, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH AIR BAG DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,865. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10849810

140,000 miles · Jun 6, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

DT: THE OWNER TRIED TO PARK CAR AND WAS SLOWY GOING INTO THE PARKING SPACE. ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR ACCERELATED AND IT CRASHED INTO A WALL OF A BUILDING. THEN, CAR SMOKED. OWNER SUSTAINED INJURIES . BEFORE THE CAR TOOK OFF THE OWNER WAS GOING 1-2 MPH. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED THE OWNER'S ARM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10124303

105,000 miles · Apr 5, 2005
Air BagsInjury

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES ARM, CHEST, AND FACE INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10117442

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND AFTER 60 SECONDS THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063317

130,000 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BROKE FROM THE ANCHORING AT THE BOTTOM DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTON. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10022238

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD STOP ON A TRAFIC LIGHT AND THEN BEARLY REALESED THE BRAKE PAD AND INPACTED THE FRONT VEHICLE THAT LET THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. MANUFACTOR WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE RETRAINT SYSTEM PERFORM PROPERLY AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PRIOR ACCIDENT THAT IT WAS DONE SIX YEARS BEFORE WHERE THE ACCIDENT WAS …

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD STOP ON A TRAFIC LIGHT AND THEN BEARLY REALESED THE BRAKE PAD AND INPACTED THE FRONT VEHICLE THAT LET THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. MANUFACTOR WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE RETRAINT SYSTEM PERFORM PROPERLY AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PRIOR ACCIDENT THAT IT WAS DONE SIX YEARS BEFORE WHERE THE ACCIDENT WAS MAJOR AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

NHTSA ODI #8021952

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN MAY 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR EITHER NOT STARTING, AND IF IT DID START IT WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME. THIS SEEMS SIMULAR TO THE INCIDENT WITH THE RECENT COURT ORDERED RECALL OF THE FORD VEHICLE WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION UNIT WHICH CAUSES THE CARS TO STALL AT ANY TIME. IN MY SITUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS AC…

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IN MAY 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR EITHER NOT STARTING, AND IF IT DID START IT WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME. THIS SEEMS SIMULAR TO THE INCIDENT WITH THE RECENT COURT ORDERED RECALL OF THE FORD VEHICLE WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION UNIT WHICH CAUSES THE CARS TO STALL AT ANY TIME. IN MY SITUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE ISOLATED DOWN TO A SINGLE ITEM. THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING WAS NEVER DUPLICATED BY THE VOLVO DEALER THAT LOOKED AT IT. THEY KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONE OF THREE COMPONENTS, THE FUEL PUMP RELAY - P/N 3523608, INJECTOR RELAY - P/N 1323592-1, AND THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR - P/N 2719949. CHANGING THESE PARTS WAS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR THIS SITUATION, I WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO SERVICE ADVISER. AT THE TIME HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY GET 3 TO 4 OF THESE PROBLEMS IN A MONTH, AND HE DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED FOR THE POTENTIAL DANGER WITH THE CAR CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, OR THE FACT THAT HE WAS CHANGING TWO PARTS THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE CHANGED. LATER I WROTE THE MANAGER OF THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE TWO GOOD PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED AND GOT A REPLY FROM THE SAME SERVICE ADVISER. AT THIS TIME THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY GET THIS PROBLEM PER MONTH ACCORDING TO HIM DROPPED TO 1 INSTEAD OF THE3 TO 4 PER MONTH THAT HE HAD CLAIMED BEFORE. I POINTED OUT TO HIM THAT THE FACT THAT THE PART NEVER FAILS PERMENATELY IS CAUSE TO CONSIDER IT A DEFECTIVE PART. HE SAID THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BOOK THAT STATES THAT A PART HAS TO FAIL PERMENATELY. I RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGER THAT THIS SITUATION HAS FROM THE MOMENT I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT DUE TO THE APATHY OF THE SERVICE ADVISER AND THE MANAGER AT THE VOLVO CENTER HERE I WAS HESITANT TO CONTACT NHTSA. SINCE THE JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA SEEMS TO THINK LIKE I DO, I'M NOW BRINGING THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM TO YOUR ATTENTION. THIS IS THE BASICS OF MY COMPLAINT. PLEASE SEND ME ANY OTHER INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT THAT YOU MAY HAVE..

NHTSA ODI #734121

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Steering

I TOOK MY CAR IN WHEN THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FOR AIR BAG LIGHTS COMING ON. THE FAIRFAX VOVLO DEALER ESTIMATED MY REPAIRS TO BE $1400.00. I FIND THIS OUTRAGEOUS, THE PART ALONE WAS $1100. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND OR IS THIS A ONE TIME CASE. I WILL ALSO SEND AN E-MAIL TO VOLVO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #731074

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2000
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #552489

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1999
Air Bags

WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER CONTACTED AN INDEPENDENT VOLVE SERVICE CENTER, AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850553

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

2

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

PE93095 · Inadver.air Bag Deployment

Opened Nov 23, 1993 · Closed Apr 20, 1994

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

There is no summary currently available