1989 Volvo 240 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Volvo 240, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical527.8%
- Driver assistance316.7%
- Interior & seats211.1%
- Fuel system15.6%
- Other / unspecified15.6%
- Powertrain (other)15.6%
- Tires & wheels15.6%
- Body & structure15.6%
- Transmission15.6%
- Brakes15.6%
- Engine15.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR/ COMPUTER AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. 0
ELECTRICAL: DRIVING HOME AND VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE, GOT HOME DICSONNECTED THE BATTERY. WIRING FROM DASH TO BACK LIGHTS HAD BURNED OUT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTED. SEE NHTSA ITEM #SB023184,SB028386, SB028388, SB036283,SB019139, SB026140,SB028385. ALSO REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 225913X ISSUED FEB. 1995.
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, THE THROTTLE AND/OR LINKAGE STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE IN SPEED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONDITION OF SEAT IS A SAFETY VIOLATION IN VA AND MUST BE CORRECTED. *AK
DRIVER SEAT BACK FRAME BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK AT AN ANGLE ON ONE SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR/ COMPUTER AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. 0
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1989 VOLVO 240 DL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GASKETS OF THE WALKER PART NUMBER 35145 EXHAUST RUBBER INSULATOR HANGERS FOR THE REAR MUFFLER HAD CRACKED AND DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 VOLVO 240 DL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION NEAR THE REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 VOLVO 240. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE GPH TIRES, SIZE P195/65/R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS SIMILAR TO A FLAPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN PERFORMING DIFFERENTLY. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS SHREDDED AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED FOR HER PARTICULAR TIRE SIZE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE P195/60/R15 SIZE TIRE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 16,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING/NO REVERSE. SEE NHTSA ITEM # SB028389 &SB025086. ALSO REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ATRATB143 ISSUED NOV. 1992.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR SERVICES-SEE NHTSA ITEM #SB012762
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
NEED NEW BLOWER MOTOR FAN AND FAN WHEEL INSTALLED. SEE NHTSA ITEM #SB015770, SB019152
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .