1990 Volvo 240 Owner Complaints

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.

NHTSA ID

10652550

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

Mileage

129,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10650380

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

Mileage

129,577 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10433575

Incident

Oct 24, 2011

Mileage

2,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO REVERSE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032134

Incident

Jul 31, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

8019118

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

561250

WHILE SEATING IN DRIVER SEAT NOTICED SEAT ROCKING SOON AFTER WHEN SEAT BROKE IN HALF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

881513

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.

NHTSA ID

713737

Incident

Dec 20, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FELL OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED A BOLT BUT NOW THE SEAT BACK APPEARS READY TO FALL AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

530815

Incident

Jun 17, 1994

WHILE PARKED WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

818656

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.

NHTSA ID

604287

Incident

Jun 1, 1995

VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

816548

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AT 55 MPH DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL UNIT.

NHTSA ID

520138

Incident

Jun 13, 1997

ECM COMPUTER UNIT FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE STALL.

NHTSA ID

519583

Incident

Jun 13, 1997

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55MPH THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS SO OTHER CARS WOULDN'T HIT THEM. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION, AND IT COULD STOP AT ANYTIME. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

813907

Incident

Jun 15, 1997

COMPUTER COMMAND CONTROL MODULE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

518947

THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

803867

Incident

Oct 15, 1996

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

802339

Incident

Sep 12, 1996

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FELL APART. TT

NHTSA ID

974259

Incident

Feb 1, 1995

STEERING LOWER KNUCKLE FAILED (PLEASE EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL). TT

NHTSA ID

963692

Incident

Jul 21, 1994