1991 Volvo 740 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 1991 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
- Airbags1145.8%
- Driver assistance28.3%
- Electrical28.3%
- Engine28.3%
- Seat belts28.3%
- Steering28.3%
- Transmission14.2%
- Brakes14.2%
- Fuel system14.2%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740GL (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS, THE LEFT SHOULDER, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH AIR BAG DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,865. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ *CN
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES ARM, CHEST, AND FACE INJURIES. *AK
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE OWNER TRIED TO PARK CAR AND WAS SLOWY GOING INTO THE PARKING SPACE. ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR ACCERELATED AND IT CRASHED INTO A WALL OF A BUILDING. THEN, CAR SMOKED. OWNER SUSTAINED INJURIES . BEFORE THE CAR TOOK OFF THE OWNER WAS GOING 1-2 MPH. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED THE OWNER'S ARM.*AK
WHEN DRIVING COMING TO A STOP AND START BACK UP CAR ACCELERATED THERE IS NO BRAKE. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND AFTER 60 SECONDS THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAR STARTED SMOKING PULL OVER CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
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
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
WATER PUMP FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BROKE FROM THE ANCHORING AT THE BOTTOM DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTON. *AK *CB *NLM
SRS LIGHT INDICATES NOT FUNCTIONAL. IN ADDITION, CENTER/REAR SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVER OVER MALE PORTION OF LATCH CONTINUALLY COMES OFF, CAUSING AN INSIDE PART TO FALL OUT.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I TOOK MY CAR IN WHEN THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FOR AIR BAG LIGHTS COMING ON. THE FAIRFAX VOVLO DEALER ESTIMATED MY REPAIRS TO BE $1400.00. I FIND THIS OUTRAGEOUS, THE PART ALONE WAS $1100. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND OR IS THIS A ONE TIME CASE. I WILL ALSO SEND AN E-MAIL TO VOLVO. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
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
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
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
WHEN DRIVING COMING TO A STOP AND START BACK UP CAR ACCELERATED THERE IS NO BRAKE. TT
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
IN MAY 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR EITHER NOT STARTING, AND IF IT DID START IT WOULD STALL AT ANY TIME. THIS SEEMS SIMULAR TO THE INCIDENT WITH THE RECENT COURT ORDERED RECALL OF THE FORD VEHICLE WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION UNIT WHICH CAUSES THE CARS TO STALL AT ANY TIME. IN MY SITUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT WAS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE ISOLATED DOWN TO A SINGLE ITEM. THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING WAS NEVER DUPLICATED BY THE VOLVO DEALER THAT LOOKED AT IT. THEY KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONE OF THREE COMPONENTS, THE FUEL PUMP RELAY - P/N 3523608, INJECTOR RELAY - P/N 1323592-1, AND THE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR - P/N 2719949. CHANGING THESE PARTS WAS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR THIS SITUATION, I WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO SERVICE ADVISER. AT THE TIME HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY GET 3 TO 4 OF THESE PROBLEMS IN A MONTH, AND HE DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED FOR THE POTENTIAL DANGER WITH THE CAR CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, OR THE FACT THAT HE WAS CHANGING TWO PARTS THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE CHANGED. LATER I WROTE THE MANAGER OF THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE TWO GOOD PARTS THAT WERE CHANGED AND GOT A REPLY FROM THE SAME SERVICE ADVISER. AT THIS TIME THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY GET THIS PROBLEM PER MONTH ACCORDING TO HIM DROPPED TO 1 INSTEAD OF THE3 TO 4 PER MONTH THAT HE HAD CLAIMED BEFORE. I POINTED OUT TO HIM THAT THE FACT THAT THE PART NEVER FAILS PERMENATELY IS CAUSE TO CONSIDER IT A DEFECTIVE PART. HE SAID THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BOOK THAT STATES THAT A PART HAS TO FAIL PERMENATELY. I RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGER THAT THIS SITUATION HAS FROM THE MOMENT I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT DUE TO THE APATHY OF THE SERVICE ADVISER AND THE MANAGER AT THE VOLVO CENTER HERE I WAS HESITANT TO CONTACT NHTSA. SINCE THE JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA SEEMS TO THINK LIKE I DO, I'M NOW BRINGING THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM TO YOUR ATTENTION. THIS IS THE BASICS OF MY COMPLAINT. PLEASE SEND ME ANY OTHER INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT THAT YOU MAY HAVE..
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 .