14 of the
55 complaints about the 1990 Volvo 740 are about the
throttle and cruise control — 25% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
170,000 miles.
F
14
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
14100.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 200,000 milesLOS Angeles, CACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10816574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesAptos, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10730707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesPlymouth, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A SUPER HIGH SPEED REVERSE (ON ITS OWN FROM ZERO TO PERHAPS 40 MPH?) WHILE MY FOOT WAS JAMMED IN TERROR ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BEFORE I SMASHED INTO A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I SOLD THE CAR LONG AGO, BUT THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I LOVE VOLVO AND STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE SAFE CARS, SO I REGRET TO BRING THIS UP.
NHTSA complaint #10319236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greensboro, NCCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AND SHIFTED THE GEAR, WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE, FROM PARK MODE TO REVERS MODE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED IT, THE CAR TOOK OFF IN FULL SPEED BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS CRAZY, HITTING A CAR AND A PASSENGER THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR. AS MY CAR HIT THE 2ND VEHICLE'S OPEN DOOR, IT BOUNCED FORWARD, ALSO IN FULL SPEED. BY THIS TIME, I SHIFTED THE GEAR TO PARK MODE IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW AND HIT A SUV AND AS THE AIRBAG BROKE, MY CAR STOPPED. THE SUV WAS THEN SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF IT. BOTH CARS WERE EMPTY BUT THE PASSENGER FROM THE FIRST CAR WAS BADLY BRUISED IN HER SIDE AND KNEE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAD OCCURED AND THE TIRE MARKS REMAINED FROM THE STARTING LOCATION TO THE END BECAUSE I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE ALL THE TIME, NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW UNINTENTIONALLY. SINCE IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL CASE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR YET AND I WILL PROBABLY TOTAL THAT CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10185465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mercer Island, WACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE AT 20MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED TO 50-60MPH. BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE TO SLOW ACCELERATION. VEHICLE FLEW OVER CURB, INTO PARK CRASHING INTO TREE. THANKFULLY, AIRBAG DEPLOYED SAVING ELDERLY DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #740135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medina, WICrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO TURN AROUND A CURVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED VOLVO. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #879198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bethesda, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. DRIVER SITTING IN A CARPOOL PICKUP LINE WITH CAR TURNED OFF. DRIVER STARTED CAR IN ORDER TO MOVE IT FORWARD ABOUT 25 FEET( THEN THE INTENTION WAS TO TURN IT OFF AND SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES UNTIL SCHOOL GOT OUT). DRIVER PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT TO GIVE CAR SOME GAS AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD, ENGINE COMPLETLY REVED. TRIED TO JAM ON BRAKES BUT THE CAR ENGINE STILL TOTALLY REVED. SMASHED INTO FORD EXPEDITION IN FRONT OF ME. AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING STOMACH ONLY.
NHTSA complaint #734869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Grand Rapids, MICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH THE DRIVERS FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN THE TOTALED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #842344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newtown, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #536805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE WAITING IN LINE PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 50MPH. APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING, WHEN VEHICLE HIT THE WALL THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE ONCE IT STARTED ACCELERATING.*AK
NHTSA complaint #813202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encino, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #808877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Encino, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OWNER STATES THAT FOR NO REASON WHILE BACKING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL OWNER IS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #808839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #488271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Bedfor, MACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ATTEMPTING RIGHT TURN, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 489061). *SKD
NHTSA complaint #479611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.