BATTERY CABLE SHORT
BATTERY CABLES MAY SUFFER INSULATION DAMAGE THAT COULD RESULT IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
FaultScore report
Owners have filed 16 complaints about the 1988 Volvo 740 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2014. The largest single group is the electrical system.
16
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 3 fires
Median failure at 163,000 miles
0 crashes, 2 fires
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.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
BATTERY CABLE SHORT
BATTERY CABLES MAY SUFFER INSULATION DAMAGE THAT COULD RESULT IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS
I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST, KNOCKING ME UNCONSCIOUS AND DAMAGING MY RIGHT EYE AND BREAST AND CAUSING CHEMICAL BURNS ON MY FACE AND NECK. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND FOLLOWUP THE FOLLOWING DAY BY EYE SURGEONS AND RETINA SPECIALISTS. I SUSTAINED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT EYE WHICH RESULTED IN A BLIND-SPOT. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE OR WORK FOR A WEEK. I REQUIRED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS AND AM STILL CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE EYE DOCTOR FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY EYE (WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY RESULT IN GLAUCOMA). VOLVO REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR MADE ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES, MEDICAL OR LOSS OF MY VEHICLE AND STALLED ALL EFFORTS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, EVEN AFTER INITIALLY INDICATING TO MY ATTORNEY THAT THEY WOULDN'T CONTEST SETTLEMENT. MY VEHICLE WAS 17 YEARS OLD BUT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL-MAINTAINED AND HAD RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE ACCORDING TO ALL VOLVO'S PR CLAIMS. I ENDED UP NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE AT ALL, BECAUSE VOLVO DIRECTED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL THE CASE WAS SETTLED AND THE STORAGE FEE AT THE SERVICE SHOP ACCUMULATED TO OVER $3600, MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR AND I FINALLY SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO THE SERVICE SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10662195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1988 740 AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. *TS WHEN THE CONSUMER TURN ON THE IGNITION THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEPLOYMENT MOMENTARILY KNOCKED THE CONSUMER UNCONSCIOUS. THE AIR BAG SLAMMED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CONSUMER'S FACE AND LEFT BREAST. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BLOODY NOSE AND EYE, CHEMICAL BURNS AND IMMEDIATE SWELLING OF HER FACE. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO SUSTAINED 20% LOSS OF VISION IN HER RIGHT EYE.
NHTSA complaint #10168035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT JUST A FEW MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #745654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER TWO HOURS SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM HOOD AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, OPENED THE HOOD, AND IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES. IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUT OF THE WIRE HARNESS. VOLVO HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #869529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
BATTERY CABLES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN AND ENGINE FIRE CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RECIEVE BURNS TO THE ARM AND WRIST WHILE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #529949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DRIVING VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 50MPH, VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #801998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
AIR BAGS
I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE AND CHEST, KNOCKING ME UNCONSCIOUS AND DAMAGING MY RIGHT EYE AND BREAST AND CAUSING CHEMICAL BURNS ON MY FACE AND NECK. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL AND FOLLOWUP THE FOLLOWING DAY BY EYE SURGEONS AND RETINA SPECIALISTS. I SUSTAINED PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT EYE WHICH RESULTED IN A BLIND-SPOT. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE OR WORK FOR A WEEK. I REQUIRED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS AND AM STILL CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE EYE DOCTOR FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY EYE (WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY RESULT IN GLAUCOMA). VOLVO REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR MADE ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES, MEDICAL OR LOSS OF MY VEHICLE AND STALLED ALL EFFORTS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, EVEN AFTER INITIALLY INDICATING TO MY ATTORNEY THAT THEY WOULDN'T CONTEST SETTLEMENT. MY VEHICLE WAS 17 YEARS OLD BUT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL-MAINTAINED AND HAD RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE ACCORDING TO ALL VOLVO'S PR CLAIMS. I ENDED UP NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE AT ALL, BECAUSE VOLVO DIRECTED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL THE CASE WAS SETTLED AND THE STORAGE FEE AT THE SERVICE SHOP ACCUMULATED TO OVER $3600, MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR AND I FINALLY SIGNED THE TITLE OVER TO THE SERVICE SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10662195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1988 740 AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. *TS WHEN THE CONSUMER TURN ON THE IGNITION THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEPLOYMENT MOMENTARILY KNOCKED THE CONSUMER UNCONSCIOUS. THE AIR BAG SLAMMED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CONSUMER'S FACE AND LEFT BREAST. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BLOODY NOSE AND EYE, CHEMICAL BURNS AND IMMEDIATE SWELLING OF HER FACE. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO SUSTAINED 20% LOSS OF VISION IN HER RIGHT EYE.
NHTSA complaint #10168035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT JUST A FEW MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #745654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER TWO HOURS SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM HOOD AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, OPENED THE HOOD, AND IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES. IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUT OF THE WIRE HARNESS. VOLVO HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #869529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
BATTERY CABLES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN AND ENGINE FIRE CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RECIEVE BURNS TO THE ARM AND WRIST WHILE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #529949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
RECALL ON THE INSULATION ON THE BATTERY CABLES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT, RECALL NOT DONE BECAUSE OF DEALER LOCATION PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #528650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINSHIELD WASHERS FAILED, AFFECTING VISIBILITY. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #513844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTO GARAGEVEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. OWNER TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #817114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #811583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DRIVING VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 50MPH, VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #801998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
PE96-019 ACTIVE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE,AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR 1/2 HOUR.*AK THE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE HOOD, THE AUTOMOBILE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #986952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
VEHICLE HAD BATTERY CABLE SHORT CAUSING ERRACTIC LIGHTING OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #986423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING, SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT
NHTSA complaint #977863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR WAS IN PARK AND CAUGHT ON FIRE .
NHTSA complaint #971455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HOLE BURNED THROUGH CYLINDER HEAD, CAUSING ENGINE/RADIATOR TO FAIL. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #478182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.