RoadVitals

1993 Volvo 940 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.
23
Latest Aug 13, 2007
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
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.
10

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 Volvo 940, 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

  • Airbags520.0%
  • Driver assistance520.0%
  • Tires & wheels312.0%
  • Brakes312.0%
  • Fuel system28.0%
  • Electrical28.0%
  • Interior & seats14.0%
  • Suspension14.0%
  • Engine14.0%
  • Transmission14.0%
  • Visibility14.0%

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

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VOLVO DEALER REPRESENTED STATED SRS CRASH SENSOR WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID 749531 · filed Aug 1, 2001

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITHOUT CONTACT WITH ANYTHING.

NHTSA ID 712555 · filed Sep 30, 1999

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

Driver assistance

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

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD. CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITH GAS PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. TURNED OFF ENGINE IGNITION, GAS PEDAL REMAINED FULLY DEPRESSED. CAR TOWED TO VOLVO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID 736186 · filed Nov 12, 2000

WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 841949 · filed Jul 8, 1999

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

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLVO 940. THE VEHICLE HAS DUNLOP TIRES, SIZE P205/60R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS ON THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE BAD AND CAUSED THE TIRES TO FLATTEN. HE STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR SIX MONTHS, WHEN DURING THE COURSE OF ONE WEEK, THE VALVE STEM FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE DOT NUMBER (P072ARO OR CR54606-2). THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

NHTSA ID 10199382 · filed Aug 13, 2007

IN JANUARY 2002 WE PURCHASED A SET OF 4 DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 SNOW TIRES 205/55R16 FOR A VOLVO 940 TURBO SEDAN. WE HAVE HAD 3 SIDEWALL FAILURES OF THESE SNOW TIRES RUNNING ONLY 5700 MILES, WITH 2 ACTIVE BLOWOUTS & 1 LARGE SIDEWALL BLISTER. TIRES WERE USED ONLY IN WINTER. THERE IS HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THE TREADS. THE FIRST TIRE FAILED 13APR02 AT 3000 MI (DOT CODE 3400), ITS REPLACEMENT 12JAN04 AFTER 500 MI (DOT CODE 3702), & THE LATEST FAILED 1DEC05 AT 5700 MILES (DOT CODE 3400).. A DUNLOP-GOODYEAR INSPECTOR @ CONDUIT TIRE, BROOKLYN, STATED THIS WAS SIMPLY ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED WITHOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HE REFUSED ANY DAMAGE RESPONSIBILITY. HE ALSO STATED HE DISLIKES ALL SNOW TIRES & REFUSES TO SELL ANY. A WARRANTY WOULD DO US LITTLE GOOD, AS IT EXPIRES AFTER 3 YEARS, REGARDLESS OF HOW LITTLE USE THE TIRES GOT.. WE DRIVE IN THE NY CITY METRO AREA, A HOME TO POTHOLES. HOWEVER, OVER 35 YEARS OF DRIVING ON THESE SAME ROADS, WE HAVE WORN THROUGH MANY SUMMER & SNOW TIRES, WITH NO SIDEWALL FAILURES, EXCEPT FOR THESE DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 TIRES. PREVIOUSLY WE DROVE KLABEAR & BLIZZARD SNOW TIRES WITH NO PROBLEMS, & WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH VARIOUS DUNLOP SPORT SUMMER/ALL WEATHER TIRES THAT PROVIDED EXCELLENT RIDE & WEAR WITH NO FAILURES. OUR SUMMER TIRES ARE DUNLOP SP SPORT 5000 205/55WR16, WITH 3 TIMES THE MILES USED AS THE SNOW TIRES, ON THE SAME ROADS, SAME CAR.. THERE IS NO REASON WHY 3 WINTER SPORT TIRES SHOULD FAIL AFTER A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, WHEN DRIVEN ON EXACTLY THE SAME ROADS IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER BRANDS, OVER MUCH LONGER DISTANCES, THAT NEVER FAILED. WE HAVE SELECTED A BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM-25 SNOW TIRE TO REPLACE THE DUNLOP WINTER SPORT. AFTER THESE 3 FAILURES, WE WILL NEVER USE A DUNLOP SNOW TIRE AGAIN.. WE URGE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE A MAJOR SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE IN THESE DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 SNOW TIRES IN THE 205/55R16 SIZE. *JB

NHTSA ID 10145136 · filed Dec 13, 2005

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AUTO-TRAN: SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK, WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, ENGINE ACCELERATED FORWARD/BACKWARD; UNUSUALLY HIGH ACCELERATION; VEHICLE HIT WALL/OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ID 973216 · filed Oct 11, 1995

ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE; WAS DRIVING ON DRY WEATHER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND IT FAIL. TT

NHTSA ID 959726 · filed Feb 8, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD SPILL FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK AND PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE. FUEL TANK AND HOSES/FITTINGS WERE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDANT GARAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A 3 INCH SPLIT TO FUEL OVERFLOW HOSE ON MAIN HOSE CONNECTING FUEL FILLER TO FUEL TANK MAIN HOSE REPLACED. DT

NHTSA ID 769816 · filed Nov 17, 2002

THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT AND THE WIRES COUGHT ON FIRE BURNING THE FUEL PUMP AND BOTH ARE LOCATED INSIDE THE GAS TANK. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BLOW UP. MY MECHANIC WAS SURPRISE IT DIDN'T. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SHOWED NO REAL CONCERN. THEY INVESTIGATED THE SITUATION AND SAID, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY TO SHORT OUT. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO EXAMINE IT FURTHER OR RECALL THE PART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS OCCURANCE, THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS WE WERE. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I AS THE MANUFACTURER IF THEY WOULD REFIT MY CAR WITH AN EXTERNAL PUMP (LIKE THE NEWER VERSION VOLVOS) THEY SIAD NO. AGAIN THEY SHOWED NO RERAL CONCER FOR ME OR ANY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID 728190 · filed Aug 16, 2000

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

THE CAR WAS STATIONED IN MY HOUSE DRIVE-WAY AND WAS DESTROYED BY AN SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ID 758460 · filed Feb 21, 2002

AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT 10 OR 15 FT FOWARD, THE VEHICLE STALLED/CUT OFF AND THEN HAD TO RESTART IT. *AK VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND SO INFREQUENTLY THAT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM BY TEST DRIVING, STALLING HAPPENS AFTER A FULL STOP WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, VEHICLE WILL MOVE FOWARD NORMALLY AT LEAST 10 TO 15 FEET THEN ABRUPTLY STALLS, CONSUMER STATES WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED TO TRY AN CORRECT PROBLEM BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED.*JB

NHTSA ID 803648 · filed Oct 17, 1996

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

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL ABOUT 55MPH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE JUST POPPED OPEN, AND THE HOOD WENT INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ID 817915 · filed Oct 29, 1997

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

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHASED MY CAR ON APRIL 20, 1993 AT SNELL VOLVO NOW VOLVO OF RICHARDSON. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE SIDE SO I TOOK IT TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN MONROE, LA. AFTER THAT TIME I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES DUE TO THE SAME PROPLEM. THE DEALER COULD NEVER GET IT TO REPEAT THE ACTION. I HAD TO HAVE MY TIRES REPLACED NEARLY AT EVERY 20K MILES. THEY WOULD SIMPLY BLOW OUT. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NEVER ALIGN PROPERLY. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEN ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1999 I TOOK THE CAR TO A NON VOLVO DEALER TO HAVE IT ALIGNED. IT HAD JUST BEEN TO THE VOLVO SHOP A COUPLE OF WEEK PRIOR FOR A 5K SERVICE CHECK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE STRUT ROD WAS BENT. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP , BUT I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. THE TAIL RIGOROUSLY MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. AFTER THE TRUCK ARRIVED WE COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT A LONG METAL PART WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS THE FRAME WAS CLEANLY BROKEN. I WAS TOLD THAT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE THAT CAR. I REPORTED THIS TO THE VOLVO HEADQUARTERS AND STATED THAT I HAD ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT BEING ALIGNED AND THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED DURING MAINTENANCE CHECKS AND I WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE RECORDS FROM THE PAST 6 YEARS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE.*AK

NHTSA ID 705780 · filed Apr 19, 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

AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT 10 OR 15 FT FOWARD, THE VEHICLE STALLED/CUT OFF AND THEN HAD TO RESTART IT. *AK VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND SO INFREQUENTLY THAT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM BY TEST DRIVING, STALLING HAPPENS AFTER A FULL STOP WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, VEHICLE WILL MOVE FOWARD NORMALLY AT LEAST 10 TO 15 FEET THEN ABRUPTLY STALLS, CONSUMER STATES WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED TO TRY AN CORRECT PROBLEM BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED.*JB

NHTSA ID 803648 · filed Oct 17, 1996

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

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER/ENGINE DRAG WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO 4TH GEAR. *SKD

NHTSA ID 478226 · filed Jan 6, 1995

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

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID DOES NOT ALWAYS COME OUT, CAN HEAR THE PUMP WORKING BUT NOTHING COMES OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 986960 · filed Jul 17, 1996

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 .