Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Volvo 740
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
850.0%
1 crashes, 2 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
212.5%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
212.5%
Fuel & Propulsion
16.3%
Brakes
16.3%
Airbags
16.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 2Aug 2002
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Springfield, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WISPS OF FOUL-SMELLING SMOKE ISSUED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I PARKED THE CAR AND EVACUATED THE OCCUPANTS. THE CAR RESTARTED BY ITSELF, RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN STALLED. DURING THIS TIME, FIRE SPREAD FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ENGULFED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CARGO AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #741321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, Ontario, CDFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN CONSUMER USED KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SOON AFTER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES, DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
FRONT END COLLISON OF VOLVO 740 SW IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SON HIT HEAD AND HAD TO BE SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOM DUE TO POSSIBLE CONCUSSION. MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE, WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY? PLAN ON TAKING VEHICLE FOR SERVICE REPAIR ESTIMATE, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AFTER A FRONT END ACCIDENT, WHEN THEY DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT?
NHTSA complaint #704433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OWNER STATES THAT AFTER EXITING HIS VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY THE ENGINE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN, OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #809065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Agoura Hills, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR PLACED IN REVERSE AND THEN TOOK OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #960157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Washing, MDCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING OUT DRIVEWAY, CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION LOST CONTROL HITTING A CURB UNDER THE BOTTOM DAMAGE. TT
NHTSA complaint #958338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Fernandina Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS TOTALLY DEGRADED, CAUSING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE WORST BEING OVERPOWER TO THE FUEL INJECTORS CAUSING TOTAL GASOLINE FLOODING OF THE CYLINDERS AND DUMPING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT ALL VOLVO'S FROM 1983-1987 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER FIXED IT. GASOLINE DUMPING IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZZARD, IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN SMOKING IN THE CAR, OR SOMEONE PULLED UP BESIDE ME SMOKING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FIRE AND EXPLOSION. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALLY REPLACED, AND VOLVO SAYS THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, A PROBLEM THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE EXSISTED. IT SEEMS THAT VOLVO EXPERIMENTED WITH INSULATION IN THE EARLY 80S TO MAKE WIRING HARNESSES BIODEGRADEABLE. THAT IS ADMIRABLE, BUT IT WAS ALSO A FAILURE, CREATING MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR VOLVO OWNERS AROUND THE WORLD, AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALL VOLVO'S BUILT IN THIS TIME PERIOD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, BUT IF NOT, ITS A MIRACLE. VOLVO SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THESE THINGS IN THE 80'S WHEN THEY BECAME WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #765458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, VAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WISPS OF FOUL-SMELLING SMOKE ISSUED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I PARKED THE CAR AND EVACUATED THE OCCUPANTS. THE CAR RESTARTED BY ITSELF, RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN STALLED. DURING THIS TIME, FIRE SPREAD FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ENGULFED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CARGO AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #741321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAR Rockaway, NY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON 6/18/00 I BOUGHT A VOLVO FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DEALER. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO REVERSE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT , I TOOK IT BACK TO FIND OUT THAT HE WAS NOT REAL DEALER, AND THAT HE LIED TO MY CREDIT CARD HOLDER SAYING THAT I BOUGHT AUTO PARTS WHEN I BOUGHT A CAR. HE SAYS THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS (FUSES, REAR LEFT LIGHT,)
NHTSA complaint #724555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toronto, Ontario, CDFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN CONSUMER USED KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SOON AFTER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES, DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westlake Village, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS NOT ADEQUATELY RATED FOR THE TEMPERTURE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT COMPLETELY OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #854306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greensburg, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL AND CUTT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #850871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PARKED MY CAR AND LEFT FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTE. WHEN I RETURNED WAS IN FLAME. THE FIRE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE CAR. TRUNK AND TIRES WERE THE ONLY THINGS NOT BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #709923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
FRONT END COLLISON OF VOLVO 740 SW IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SON HIT HEAD AND HAD TO BE SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOM DUE TO POSSIBLE CONCUSSION. MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE, WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY? PLAN ON TAKING VEHICLE FOR SERVICE REPAIR ESTIMATE, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AFTER A FRONT END ACCIDENT, WHEN THEY DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT?
NHTSA complaint #704433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 7 YEARS. THIS ALSO REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. WORN ROTORS CAUSE SEVERE SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #701169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Memphis, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
LEFT EMISSION STATION & RADIO DIED; PULLED OVER & LOOKED UNDER HOOD & NOTICED SMOKE & AIR CONDITIONER LINES WERE HOT; TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED PROBLEM W/ELECTRIC WIRE HARNESS HAD SHORTED OUT; VEHICLE BURNED 2ND TIME WHILE AT DEALER. (RECALL #87V064000).
NHTSA complaint #817650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OWNER STATES THAT AFTER EXITING HIS VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY THE ENGINE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN, OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #809065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roanoke, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE CAR, TOOK TO DEALR AND HE SAID THAT IT TIS THE ENGINE MOUNTS. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #806480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homewood, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FRONT UNDERHOOD HARNESS RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE (87V-064).
NHTSA complaint #485826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homewood, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
SHORTENING OF AIR FILTER PRE-HEATER DUCT, CAUSING METAL DUCT HOSE TO RUB AGINST THE TURB0-CHARGER HOUSING, RESULTING IN A HOLE IN THE HOUSING.
NHTSA complaint #485826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Agoura Hills, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR PLACED IN REVERSE AND THEN TOOK OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #960157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Washing, MDCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING OUT DRIVEWAY, CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION LOST CONTROL HITTING A CURB UNDER THE BOTTOM DAMAGE. TT
NHTSA complaint #958338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.