30 of the
199 complaints filed about the Volvo 740
are about the airbag system —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1991.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740GL (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS, THE LEFT SHOULDER, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH AIR BAG DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,865. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10849810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING OVER A HILL AT 45 MPH, A DEER ENTERED THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEER. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT STRIKING TREES. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN WHO DETERMINED, BASED ON THE SPEED AND ANGLE THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/28/06.
NHTSA complaint #10152406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD STOP ON A TRAFIC LIGHT AND THEN BEARLY REALESED THE BRAKE PAD AND INPACTED THE FRONT VEHICLE THAT LET THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. MANUFACTOR WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE RETRAINT SYSTEM PERFORM PROPERLY AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PRIOR ACCIDENT THAT IT WAS DONE SIX YEARS BEFORE WHERE THE ACCIDENT WAS MAJOR AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS
NHTSA complaint #8021952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN GOING 5-10MPH TO A STOP. NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO SPECIFY A PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8021035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I ENTERED MY CAR AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY LEFT HAND WAS RESTING ON THE STEERING WHELL AS I TURNED THE KEY. THE AIR BAG RIPPED MY WATCH FROM MY WRIST AND LACERATED THE WRIST IN NUMEROUS PLACES. MY NECK, CHEST AND BOTH ARMS WERE ABRAISED. VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED. THEY SENT A "TECHNICAL SPECIALIST TO INSPECT THE CAR. VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA SENT ME A REPORT OF HIS FINDINGS WHICH STATED, "OUR TECNHICAL SPECIALIST DID OBSERVE THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOORING HAD SIGNS OF EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE AND THAT THE SRS SENSOR WAS HEAVILY CORRODED DUE TO THE EXPOSURE TO WATER. IT IS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SENSOR THAT CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY." I LIVE IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK. WE RECEIVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW IN THE WINTER. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO HAVE WATER ACCUMULATE ON THE FRONT FLOORING. THE SENSOR IS LOCATED ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ONE WOULD EXPECT THAT IT WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THE ACCUMULATED WATER. THE QUESTION ARISES IN MY MIND WHY IS SUCH A CRITICAL SENSOR PLACED IN AN AREA THAT IS VULNERABLE TO WATER CORROSION? IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE A DESIGN ERROR. MY AUTO IS 13 YEARS OLD AND HAS OVER 200,000 MILES ON IT. MAYBE IT TAKES THAT LONG TO CORROD. THE POINT IS THAT IT DID BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE FLOOR WHERE WATER CAN SOAK THE CARPETING. I SHUTTER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT IF I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT DEPLOYED. ONE THING WOULD BE CERTAIN, I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS LETTER. I WOULD LIKE VOLVO TO REPLACE MY STEERING WHEEL WITH A NEW BAG AND A NEW SENSOR. I ALSO THINK THEY SHOULD CONSIDER PLACING THE SENSOR IN A MORE SECURE AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
NHTSA complaint #762690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING FACIAL INJURIES TO CONSUMER. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR A VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE TO COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE. PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #874496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.CONSUMER CONTACTED AN INDEPENDENT VOLVE SERVICE CENTER, AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #850553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 5 MPH . AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #837770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1993 VOLVO 740 STATION WAGON HAS APPROXIMATELY 48000 MILES. NO FRONTAL COLLISION. THE S.R.S. DASH LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING. INDEPENDENT VOLVO MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A "CRASH SENSOR MALFUNCTION." SENSOR IS LOCATED UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SENSOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CASE OF FRONTAL COLLISION. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING IT TO A AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS IN A FEW DAYS. WE WERE TOLD THAT WHILE LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS LOW MILEAGE, MOSTLY CITY DRIVEN. WE ARE UNSURE IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURE'S EXTENDED WARRANTEE ON THIS ITEM. THE APPROXIMATE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT IS $12-1,300.00 (WOW....) FOR THIS SAFETY ITEM. CAN YOU FIND OUT WHAT VOLVO CAN DO REGARDING THIS? IT SEEMS LIKE AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS ACCESS TO THIS PART. WE WILL AWAIT YOUR REPLY.....THANK YOU..
NHTSA complaint #705698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I FEEL STRONLY THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR SERVICE (TAILLIGHT SENSOR PROBLEM) THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED PERMANENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, LEAVING THE AIRBAG INOPERABLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT $1200 TO SERVICE THE SRS WARNING LIGHT EVERY TIME THE OWNER DISCONNECTS AND RECONNECTS THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #703625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING AT LEAST 40MPH, AND I WAS HIT IN THE FRONT. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE MULTIPLE INJURIES DUE TO ME BEING THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE DASHBOARD, AND MY HEAD HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
NHTSA complaint #703487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.