IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING GAS TANK CRACKED, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
1994 Volvo 940
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 940 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: 9 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
11 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
41 reportsDRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH.T DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER WAS UNLOADING GROCIERS FROM TRUCK. HYDRAULIC BAR SNAPPED/ FELL DOWN, AND HIT HER IN HEAD.
THE DEFECT WINDSHIELD WASHER VALVE ALLOWS THE WINDSCREEN WASHING WATER TO SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO HOOD SPRAYERS, FAILURE ALWAYS COMES DURING RAIN OR SNOW WHEN THE ABILITY TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD IS CRITICAL. NLM
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. CAR STOPPED AT LIGHT. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF BRAKE AND CAR IMPACTED AT LOW SPEED CAR IN FRONT ALSO STOPED AT LIGHT. NO DAMAGE TO VAN IN FRONT, SMALL SILVER DOLLAR SIZE DENT IN FRONT BUMPER 1/4 INCH DEEP (EST.) AIRBAG BROKE WINDSHIELD AND SEATBELT WAS ACTIVATE AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.*AK
ALL OF THE PROBLEMS MENTIONED HAVE SHOWN UP DURING MY 2 YEAR PLUS OWNERSHIP OF THIS 1994 VOLVO 940. THE CRUISE CONTROL OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES, IF THE CAR GOVES OVER A BUMP, IT KNOCKS OUT; ANTENNA FAILED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ASSUMED IT WAS THE POWER PACK; THE 4TH GEAR SOMETIMES KICKS OUT ON ITS OWN AT STARTUP AN…
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ALL OF THE PROBLEMS MENTIONED HAVE SHOWN UP DURING MY 2 YEAR PLUS OWNERSHIP OF THIS 1994 VOLVO 940. THE CRUISE CONTROL OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES, IF THE CAR GOVES OVER A BUMP, IT KNOCKS OUT; ANTENNA FAILED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ASSUMED IT WAS THE POWER PACK; THE 4TH GEAR SOMETIMES KICKS OUT ON ITS OWN AT STARTUP AND RUNS IN 3RD, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS, OTHERS/HOURS; ABS BRAKES SOMETIMES SKIP A BEAT (OR IT'S MY HEART) WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS WHILE BRAKE PEDAL IS ENGAGED OR ON SLIPPERY SURFACES WHILE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. BIG PROBLEM, NOT SAFETY RELATED, WITH VOLVOS, THEY DROP HUB CAPS READILY AND EASILY!*AK
CONSUMER WAS WAITING WITH ENGINE ON AND FOOT ON BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SURGE/ ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT BOTH FOOT ON BRAKES WITH GREAT FORCE , AND VEHICLE STARTED TO CREEP FOWARD, AND WOULD NOT STOP. ABS BRAKES KICKED IN. CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK, AND TURN OFF IGNITION.*AK
ON 2 OCCASIONS (10/96/ AND 8/00), I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION, THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, NOT VISIBLE TO THE EYE. IN OCTOBER 1996, I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIM AS WELL AS THE TIRE. IN AUGUST, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE HOWEVER I DID…
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ON 2 OCCASIONS (10/96/ AND 8/00), I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION, THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, NOT VISIBLE TO THE EYE. IN OCTOBER 1996, I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIM AS WELL AS THE TIRE. IN AUGUST, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE HOWEVER I DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE RIM BUT ONLY THE TIRE. UPON CALLING GOODYEAR, THEY WANTED ME TO SEND THE TIRES TO THEM AS THEY WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM THOUGH IS THAT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM (A BUBBLE) WITH THE SAME TIRE EACH WITH VERY LITTLE MILEAGE ON THEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185/65/R15 )
ARIBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED AT 49,000 MILES, CAUSING AIRBAGS TO BE INOPERATIVE IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1PE97047 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Opened Oct 29, 1997 · Closed Apr 21, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available