INADVERT. AIR BAG DEPLOYS
There is no summary currently available
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Volvo 240, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and interior & seats categories. 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 1996 | 2 | 4 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 1997 | 3 | 8 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 10 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 12 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 13 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 14 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 15 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 17 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 18 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 19 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 20 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 240 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE BAY AREA. AS SOON AS SHE SHIFTED FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT MADE A HARD LEFT TURN TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE SHOP AND CRASHED INTO A WALL INSTEAD. THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY BECAME FILLED WITH WHITE SMOKE AND A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER. THE VEHICLE ONLY CAME TO A STOP DUE TO THE OBSTRUCTIONS BUT WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER, AND THE WALL HAD TO BE OPENED IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CONTACT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS REMOVED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ANY FURTHER DUE TO THE OBSTRUCTION OF THE WALL. THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE BUT BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK, REFUSED MEDICAL TRANSPORT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 240. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GLASS DOORS OF THE AUTO DEPARTMENT AND THROUGH THE BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 01/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHUTTING OFF.*JS
GOODYEAR VIVA 2 TIRES FROM WALMART HAVE GONE OUT-OF-ROUND REPEATEDLY. THE MECHANICS AT ANOTHER TIRE SHOP SAY THEY SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH WALMART GOODYEARS. I GAVE UP ON WARRANTY REPLACEMENTS, SINCE THEY ALSO FAIL, AND I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND A WIFE DRIVING THESE CARS WITH FAILING TIRES. I SACRIFICED THE WARRANTIES AND PUT KUMHOS ON THE CARS. I HAVE 6 VOLVO 240S AND ALL OF THEM HAVE HAD FAILURES OF WALMART TIRES. GOODYEAR, DOUGLAS AND UNIROYAL. 185 -70 - 14. IN EVERY CASE THE TIRES GO OUT-OF-ROUND AND CANNOT BE BALANCED. THEY WOBBLE AND SHAKE, BECAUSE OF BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS AND THE TREAD FACE, OR FLAT SPOTS IN THE TREAD FACE, WHERE THE BELTS OR BANDS INSIDE THE TIRE ARE SEPARATING AND THE TIRE STRUCTURE ITSELF IS FAILING. IN EVERY CASE THE TIRES ARE A FEW MONTHS OLD AND STILL HAVE THE BRAND NEW MOLD NIPPLES, AND THE TREAD DEPTH IS ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARS TO FRONT END ALIGNMENT SHOPS AND NONE OF THEM NEEDED SUSPENSION PARTS OR ALIGNMENT - IT HAS BEEN TIRE FAILURE SHAKING THE CARS. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 8 OF THESE TIRES FAIL IN THIS MANNER. *TR
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO REVERSE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A COLLISION. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT 3 FAILED COMPONENTS; MASTER CYLINDER/ LEFT FRONT CALIPER, AND "BOOSTER".*AK
CONSUMER STATES HE HAS BEEN HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH REAR TAIL LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLIES AND THE FRONT MARKER LIGHT, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING USED ARE VERY BRITTLE, CONSUMER STATES OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS HE HAS NOTICED NUMEROUS CRACKS, SURFACE DISTORTIONS, AND CLOUDING, ALSO WATER ENTERS THE LENS/REFELCTOR ASSEMBLIES AND HAS FURTHER AGGRAVATED THE PROBLEM BY INTRODUCING ROAD CONTAMINATES INTO THE LENS HOUSING, AS WELL AS CAUSING NUMERUS PREMATURE BULB FAILURES. *JB
WHILE SEATING IN DRIVER SEAT NOTICED SEAT ROCKING SOON AFTER WHEN SEAT BROKE IN HALF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I'M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE VOLVO (240 DL) BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE CONTROLLER GOES OUT ON THESE VEHICLES THE CARS NO LONGER OPERATE, THUS CREATING A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS TRAVELING ON A CONGESTED HIGHWAY. THIS HAS BEEN PROBLEM WITH THE VOLVO 240 DL THROUGH 1988 UNTIL 1992. VOLVO HAS NOT RECALLED ANY OF THESE CARS OR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, AND VOLVO IS PERFECTLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL MECHANICS AND RESEARCH HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE EMISSIONS CONTROLLERS AND SUPPORTING DEVICES HAVE BEEN FAILING ON THESE CARS. THE PARTS ARE COMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. MY LAST EMISSIONS REPAIRS HAVE COST ME $1100.00. FAILURE OF THE CONTROLLER PREVENTS THE CAR FROM OPERATING.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.