RoadVitals

1987 Volvo 780

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
2
Latest Jul 8, 1997
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 22, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Volvo 780, most frequently naming the heating & air conditioning and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 62 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Heating & air conditioning150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V166000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Sep 22, 1997
9,684 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO LIMITED SPACE AND VARIATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CABLES, CHAFING OF THE INSULATION OF THE CABLES FEEDING THE SEAT HEATER, POWER SEAT MOTORS AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR SITUATED UNDER THE FRONT SEAT, CAN OCCUR.
The risk: THIS CHAFING CAN LEAD TO A LOW OHM SHORT CIRCUIT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CABLE HARNESSES AND, IF NECESSARY, CORRECT OR REPLACE THESE CABLES.
VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 8, 1997
Fire reported

PARKED VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, NEXT MORNING CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE; PASSENGER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY HEATING ELEMENT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
813946
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Jun 6, 1995

THE GAS TANK HAS RUPTURED BECAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT IS TOO CLOSE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

NHTSA ID
966388
Incident
May 29, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

356EN01

EQUIPMENT

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Service Manager

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)

ST-001-2020-09-1

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.

ST-001-2020-06-2

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.

TJ31946.1.2-2019

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

TJ31946.1.1-2019

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo 780 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2016201—
2011001—
2010100—
2009300—
2006100—
2005100—
2004500—
1999101—
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1995000—
1994000—
1993001—
1992001—
1991312—
1990121—
1989320—
1988310—
1987Viewing210—
1986000—
1985000—

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.