Volvo 940 vs BMW 540I
Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.
Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.
| Measure | Volvo 940 | BMW 540I |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 138 | 340 |
| Model years covered | 1990–1998 | 1994–2025 |
| Worst model year | 1994 | 2018 |
| Best model year | 1995 | 1994 |
| Crashes reported | 42 | 26 |
| Fires reported | 5 | 7 |
| Injuries reported | 25 | 14 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Airbags | Engine & Cooling |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 52.2% | 13.8% |
Volvo 940 by year
What breaks
Airbags
45
32.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
15
10.9%
Tires
15
10.9%
Brakes
9
6.5%
Fuel & Propulsion
8
5.8%
Engine & Cooling
7
5.1%
Electrical System
7
5.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
5
3.6%
BMW 540I by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
70
20.6%
Airbags
49
14.4%
Electrical System
42
12.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
23
6.8%
Brakes
21
6.2%
Steering
17
5.0%
Seats
17
5.0%
Seat Belts
16
4.7%