1993 Volvo 940 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 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.
From owner reports, verbatim
VOLVO DEALER REPRESENTED STATED SRS CRASH SENSOR WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY. *AK
DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITHOUT CONTACT WITH ANYTHING.
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.
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
WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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.
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.
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
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
AUTO-TRAN: SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK, WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, ENGINE ACCELERATED FORWARD/BACKWARD; UNUSUALLY HIGH ACCELERATION; VEHICLE HIT WALL/OTHER CARS.
ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE; WAS DRIVING ON DRY WEATHER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND IT FAIL. 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
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
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.
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
THE CAR WAS STATIONED IN MY HOUSE DRIVE-WAY AND WAS DESTROYED BY AN SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER/ENGINE DRAG WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO 4TH GEAR. *SKD
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.
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
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 .