1990 Volvo 740 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10816574

Incident

Dec 13, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10730707

Incident

Jun 24, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES FALL PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358963

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A SUPER HIGH SPEED REVERSE (ON ITS OWN FROM ZERO TO PERHAPS 40 MPH?) WHILE MY FOOT WAS JAMMED IN TERROR ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BEFORE I SMASHED INTO A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I SOLD THE CAR LONG AGO, BUT THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I LOVE VOLVO AND STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE SAFE CARS, SO I REGRET TO BRING THIS UP.

NHTSA ID

10319236

Incident

Apr 15, 1996

Mileage

65,000 mi

IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AND SHIFTED THE GEAR, WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE, FROM PARK MODE TO REVERS MODE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED IT, THE CAR TOOK OFF IN FULL SPEED BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS CRAZY, HITTING A CAR AND A PASSENGER THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR. AS MY CAR HIT THE 2ND VEHICLE'S OPEN DOOR, IT BOUNCED FORWARD, ALSO IN FULL SPEED. BY THIS TIME, I SHIFTED THE GEAR TO PARK MODE IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW AND HIT A SUV AND AS THE AIRBAG BROKE, MY CAR STOPPED. THE SUV WAS THEN SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF IT. BOTH CARS WERE EMPTY BUT THE PASSENGER FROM THE FIRST CAR WAS BADLY BRUISED IN HER SIDE AND KNEE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAD OCCURED AND THE TIRE MARKS REMAINED FROM THE STARTING LOCATION TO THE END BECAUSE I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE ALL THE TIME, NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW UNINTENTIONALLY. SINCE IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL CASE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR YET AND I WILL PROBABLY TOTAL THAT CAR.

NHTSA ID

10185465

Incident

Mar 13, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING OVER A HILL AT 45 MPH, A DEER ENTERED THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEER. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT STRIKING TREES. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN WHO DETERMINED, BASED ON THE SPEED AND ANGLE THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152406

Incident

Jan 18, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE RADIATOR OPENING TO WHICH THE HOSE ATTACHES [FOR RETURN OF THE COOLANT TO THE ENGINE] CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE RADIATOR WHERE THE HOSE ATTACHES. THE FAILURE IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY IMPACT OR OTHER EXTERNAL FORCES. THE PLASTIC OUT OF WHICH THE RADIATOR IS MADE IS EITHER DEFECTIVE OF INADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM TOLD THAT NO REPAIR IS POSSIBLE. THE ENTIRE RADIATOR MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10066180

Incident

Apr 11, 2004

VEHICLE FIRE AS A RESULT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.*MR VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AT WORK FOUR HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED UPON DISCOVERING IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME THAT NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF THE BATTERY CABLES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEARNED OF A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE 740 MODELS. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTER CABLE CAME TOGETHER AND RAN DOWN A RUBBER TUB THAT SECURED THE INTER FRAME. AT THE END OF THE RUBBER TUBE THE POSITIVE CABLE RAN ACROSS THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER TO THE STARTER. THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AFTER LEAVING THE RUBBER TUBE CROSS OVER THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE GOING TO GROUND ITSELF TO THE ENGINE. OVER THE YEARS THE TWO CABLES RUB TOGETHER TILL THE SHEATING WORN DOWN AND MAKING CONTACT CAUSING THE SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE. THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE ( POSITIVE/NEGATIVE CABLE BURNED ALL THE WAY THROUGH, BOTH POWER STEERING HOSE BURNED, OIL SENDING UNIT AND CONNECTING WIRE, SPLASH PAN MELTED FROM FIRE DROPPING ON IT, THE A/C COMPRESSOR HOSE BURNED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU COULD SEE TREAD COMING FROM THE HOSE. THE ITEMS WERE REPLACED BUT THE A/C WASN'T WORKING. *PH

NHTSA ID

10044474

Incident

Sep 13, 2003

THE REAR WHEEL CRACKED IN HALF, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009993

Incident

Oct 5, 2002

Mileage

130,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN GOING 5-10MPH TO A STOP. NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO SPECIFY A PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8021035

Incident

Sep 5, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THICK SMOKE CAME FROM AIR CONDITIONER'S VENTS, SHORTLY AFTER, CONSUMER SAW FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY BURNED BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT TO SCENE. DRIVER SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015957

Incident

Apr 6, 2002

WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE AT 20MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED TO 50-60MPH. BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE TO SLOW ACCELERATION. VEHICLE FLEW OVER CURB, INTO PARK CRASHING INTO TREE. THANKFULLY, AIRBAG DEPLOYED SAVING ELDERLY DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

740135

Incident

Jan 28, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO TURN AROUND A CURVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED VOLVO. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE. *YH

NHTSA ID

879198

Incident

Jan 28, 2001

UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. DRIVER SITTING IN A CARPOOL PICKUP LINE WITH CAR TURNED OFF. DRIVER STARTED CAR IN ORDER TO MOVE IT FORWARD ABOUT 25 FEET( THEN THE INTENTION WAS TO TURN IT OFF AND SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES UNTIL SCHOOL GOT OUT). DRIVER PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT TO GIVE CAR SOME GAS AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD, ENGINE COMPLETLY REVED. TRIED TO JAM ON BRAKES BUT THE CAR ENGINE STILL TOTALLY REVED. SMASHED INTO FORD EXPEDITION IN FRONT OF ME. AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING STOMACH ONLY.

NHTSA ID

734869

DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT OR HAZARD, INCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES:HAZARD IS TO PERSONS GENERALLY. UNSAFE PRODUCT IS THE PART # 71901 GTSTYLING BUG-GARD. SEE EMAIL FROM: [email protected] I WROTE THAT THEIR DESIGN WAS FLAWED BECAUSE IT DEPENDED ON ADHESIVES. THEY ASKED ABOUT MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL AND FITMENT: IT IS A 1990 740 AND THE PART NUMBER I GAVE WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR IT. CONFORMING TO THE HOOD (WHICH IT DOES) IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS THAT THE OUTSIDE FASTENING DEPENDS ON ADHESIVE DOTS 3M TO STAY IN PLACE AND IT DOES NOT.CORRESPONDENCE BELOW) YOU SENT A REPLACEMENT ONCE; THE ENTIRE SHIELD. THEN YOU SENT A BOX OF BUMPONS AND A BOX OF 3M VELCRO-LIKE DOTS. I PUT 4 ON EACH SIDE AND IT STILL BREKS LOOSE AND WHIPS IN THE WIND ! ! ! ! THE FAULT IS YOURS NOT THE SELLERS AND J.C. WHITNEY IS NOT GOING TO MAKE GOOD ON IT AT THIS LATE DATE ANYWAY. I ALLEGE THAT THE PLASTIC PART FITTING ACROSS THE AUTOMOBILE HOOD IS AT RISK OF BREAKING OFF BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE ADHESIVE DOTS USED TO HOLD THE ENDS IN PLACE. IF IT DOES, IT POSES A THREAT TO PEDESTRIANS AND THE PUBLIC. NOT AN AUTOMOBILE, SO I TOOK A CHANCE THAT YOU ARE THE PROPER SITE TO REPORT THIS TO. IF NOT, PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID

734246

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

TIRE THREADS STARTED TO FALL OUT, TIRE WAS HARDLY USED, REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SPARE FROM SALVAGE YARD( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 155/R1587T )

NHTSA ID

731613

Incident

Jul 15, 2000

VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM ABOUT 20 TO 65MPH DUE TO A PIECE OF A BROKEN GASKET FALLING INTO THE THROTTLE BODY. DRIVER HAD TO TURN IGNITION OFF IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER TOOK OUT THE PIECE OF GASKET AND REPLACED GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

868602

Incident

Aug 12, 2000

BOOSTER ASSIST BECAME ERRATIC -UPON DISASSEMBLY BAKELITE TYPE DIAPHRAGM SUPPORT WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN IN 3 PIECES-THER ARE NO SIGNS OF IMPACT ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BOOSTER NOR HAS THE CAR BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE LAST YEAR.IT WAS PURCHASED USED SO NO FURTHER HISTORY IS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717620

Incident

Jan 20, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, COMING TO MAKE STOP, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A NORMAL BRAKING STOP WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ,EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

853579

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH THE DRIVERS FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN THE TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

842344

DRIVER SEAT BELT "FROZE" IN RETRACTING POSITION, UNABLE TO WITHDRAW AND FASTEN SEAT BELT. TECHNICIAN AT DEALER SAID PROBLEM PROBABLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE INERTIAL REEL. VOLVO SAID MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ON SEAT BELT EXPIRED AFTER 5 YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID

705184

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

I FEEL STRONLY THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR SERVICE (TAILLIGHT SENSOR PROBLEM) THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED PERMANENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, LEAVING THE AIRBAG INOPERABLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT $1200 TO SERVICE THE SRS WARNING LIGHT EVERY TIME THE OWNER DISCONNECTS AND RECONNECTS THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

703625

Incident

Sep 3, 1998

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING AT LEAST 40MPH, AND I WAS HIT IN THE FRONT. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE MULTIPLE INJURIES DUE TO ME BEING THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE DASHBOARD, AND MY HEAD HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. *AK

NHTSA ID

703487

Incident

Feb 17, 1999

WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD CAUGHT FIRE . THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

827428

Incident

Jun 15, 1998

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

536805

Incident

Jun 6, 1998