RoadVitals

1985 Volvo 740 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
10
Latest May 6, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Volvo 740, 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

  • Driver assistance330.0%
  • Electrical220.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Steering110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%

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

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10072229 · filed May 6, 2004

WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10072228 · filed May 6, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER DRIVING FROM THE GROCERY STORE, I STOPPED AT A STORE AND LET MY GRANDDAUGHTER RUN IN FOR A COKE. WHILE SHE WAS INSIDE,I LET THE CAR IDLE. WITHIN 3 MINUTES, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE MOTOR NEVER GAVE ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. THE PEOPLE IN THE PARKING LOT TOLD ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR ,IT WAS ON FIRE, I CUT OFF THE CAR , POPPED THE HOOD AND THEN STARTED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK, DARK TAN AND PEPPERED WITH BLACK, THAT I COULDN'T GET CLOSE. THE STORE EMPLOYEES CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WIRING, PLASTIC CONTAINERS,HOSES, INSULATION, ETC. WERE BURNT TO A CRISP. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!

NHTSA ID 729626 · filed Aug 31, 2000

THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH IS DRAINING THE BATTERY, AND VEHICLE WON'T START UNLESS THE CONSUMER GIVES VEHICLE A BOOST. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 840775 · filed Jun 22, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. *AW

NHTSA ID 486957 · filed Jun 13, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 708573 · filed Jul 13, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE WIRE PLASTIC INSULATION AROUND ENGINE IS CONTINUOUSLY DISINTEGRATING AND FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID 10033536 · filed Aug 11, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PART FAILED AGAIN 12/28/2000

NHTSA ID 738723 · filed Jan 3, 2001

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID 526223 · filed Oct 22, 1997

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

Data on this page last refreshed .