RoadVitals

1986 Volvo 240

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jun 2, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 15, 1986
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Volvo 240, most frequently naming the electrical, exterior lighting and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 64 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical417.4%
  • Exterior lighting313.0%
  • Powertrain (other)28.7%
  • Brakes28.7%
  • Driver assistance28.7%
  • Interior & seats28.7%
  • Tires & wheels14.3%
  • Body & structure14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
86V129000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sep 15, 1986
89,587 units potentially affected
The defect: IN THE EVENT OF A LOW SPEED FRONTAL IMPACT, ENGINE MOVEMENT COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE SLEEVE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE ADJUSTING FITTING AND NOT RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION OR IDLE POSITION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WOULD RESULT, MAKING CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN A POST COLLISION ENVIRONMENT, WHICH CAN CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR INJURIES.
The remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES.
VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP89009ClosedDefect Petition

FUEL SYSTEM RELIABILITY

Opened Jun 13, 1989
Closed Oct 18, 1989

FUEL SYSTEM RELIABILITY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 2, 2017
Fire reported

I OWNED A 1986 240 GL VOLVO 4 DOOR SEDAN. ONE NIGHT LAST MONTH MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AND WITHIN A BLOCK OF OUR HOUSE SHE NOTICED A FIRE ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. I CONTACTED VOLVO USA AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER THEY HAD AN "EXPERT" INSPECT OUR CAR. THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME A WRITTEN REPORT. THE EXECUTIVE, JOSEPH ([email protected]) CALLED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE SAYING THAT WE HAD TOO LARGE OF A FUSE IN THE FUSE BLOCK AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I'VE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TELL THEM THAT TOO LARGE OF A FUSE DIDN'T CAUSE THE DEAD SHORT FIRE ON OUR TAIL LIGHT. I GOOGLED TAIL LIGHT FIRES ON VOLVO'S AND FOUND SEVERAL PAGES. I'VE HAD TO SCRAP THE CAR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WASN'T SHOCKED TO SEE THE MELTED TAIL LIGHT ON MY VOLVO. HE TOLD ME HE HAD A 1984 VOLVO JUST LIKE MINE AS HIS FIRST CAR. HE SAID HIS TOO HAD THE SAME MELTED TAIL LIGHT FIRE AS MINE.

NHTSA ID
10992940
Incident
Mar 22, 2017
Mileage
155,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2003

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AFTER DRIVING AT LEAST 12 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10031239
Incident
Jul 24, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 3, 2002
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.(NO TIRE INFO GIVEN.(OHIO CRASH TRAFFIC REPORT)*JB

NHTSA ID
567284
Incident
Jul 29, 2002
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 30, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
738530
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 23, 1999

WIRING HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
848526
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 23, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported

UPON DEPRESSING DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER BUTTON, DRIVER SMELLED BURNING ODOR FOLLOWED BY FLAMES BELOW DRIVER'S SEAT, VEHICLE TOTALLY DESTROYED, INJURY TO CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID
544514
Incident
Dec 30, 1998
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 1999

WIRING IS FAILING BOTH INSIDE AND OUT,LIGHTS MOTOR ECT!!!!

NHTSA ID
704411
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+7 more
Filed Nov 11, 1998

CRUISE CONTROL/SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER/AIR INTAKE SENSOR/GLOVE BOX DOOR HINGE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER INDOOR FAN/ RADIO ANTENNA/INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR/DOME LIGHT, TAIL LIGHT LENSE/CATALITIC CONVERTER/WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT/PLASTIC COVER UNDER ENGINE/WHEEL STUDS/THROTTLE CABLE/BRACKETS THAT HOLD SUNVISOR/ROCKER PANEL TRIM MOLDING AROUND WHEEL WELLS/VENT LINE FOR GAS TANK, AND ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
781540

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

356EN01

EQUIPMENT

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Service Manager

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)

ST-001-2020-09-1

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.

ST-001-2020-06-2

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.

ST-001-2020-01-2

EQUIPMENT

Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.

TJ31946.1.2-2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by the Technical Helpdesk

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo 240 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1994200—
1993140149.3
1992220148.9
1991170254.2
1990200149.0
1989170040.4
1988100144.8
1987601—
1986Viewing121156.8
1985412—
1984500—
1983600—
1982200—
1981000—
1980100—
1978000—
1976100—
1975010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.