RoadVitals

1994 Volvo 940

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.
41
Latest Jul 25, 2018
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.
0
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.
1
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.
11
8 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 41 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Volvo 940, most frequently naming the airbags, driver assistance and brakes categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 100 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

  • Airbags2041.7%
  • Driver assistance510.4%
  • Brakes48.3%
  • Engine48.3%
  • Suspension36.3%
  • Tires & wheels36.3%
  • Electrical24.2%
  • Visibility12.1%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE97047ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

Opened Oct 29, 1997
Closed Apr 21, 1998

There is no summary currently available

AIR BAGS

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 41
Airbags
Filed Jul 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 VOLVO 940. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE SEAT BELT PANEL AS THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 285,633.

NHTSA ID
11113516
Incident
Jul 22, 2018
Mileage
285,633 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 29, 2013
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 VOLVO 940. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE FACE. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FRACTURED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID
10504983
Incident
Mar 23, 2013
Mileage
152,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 VOLVO 940. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN THE AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT WERE UNABLE TO GIVE A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 246,676.

NHTSA ID
10416762
Incident
Jun 2, 2010
Mileage
220,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 25, 2010
3 injuries reported

I WAS SOLD A VOLVO 1994 940 SERIES FROM EAST LAKE AUTO IN ISSAQUAH, WA. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED AND THE COMPANY PROMISED TO FIX WHATEVER IT WAS INDICATING. I LEFT IT AT THEIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM RELATED TO THE LIGHT, AND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY LIGHT. I DROVE THE CAR FOR THREE YEARS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. I COMMUTED TO A JOB THAT REQUIRED I BE IN THE CAR FOR OVER THREE HOURS ON MOST DAYS. I MADE A LONG TRIP AND AFTER THAT MY SONS AND I HAVE HAD MANY NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. THE COMPANY WAS CLOSED DOWN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. DUE TO ANOTHER TYPE OF REPAIR, I TOOK THE CAR IN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO BE TESTED FOR A BROKEN WATER PUMP. THE NEW COMPANY TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS WORKING, AND THE CODES IT WAS RELATED TO WERE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH WHEN CHECKED SHOWED CRACKED GASKETS IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SYSTEM. THE GASKETS SHOWED SIGNS OF HAVING BEEN LEAKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE MEANWHILE HAD MANY PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS I HAD BEEN GOING TO DOCTORS FOR AND FOUND OUT THAT I HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO CARBON MONOXIDE AT CHRONIC HIGH LEVEL. THE CAR WAS FIXED, AND I AM STILL HAVING MANY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314175
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Mileage
180,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 9, 2009
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 VOLVO 940. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARRANT. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE, A BLACK EYE, AND INJURY TO HER CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS COMING OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID
10286905
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
132,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 3, 2007

1994 940 VOLVO SEDAN WITH RIM BLOWOUT PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT TWO RIMS BLEW WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MILES PER HOUR OVER A SMALL POT HOLE**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE WAS NOT DAMAGED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10199159
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Mileage
120,882 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 16, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH TREAD SEPARATED ON REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. BRIDGESTONE, 185/65R15. *AK

NHTSA ID
10101054
Incident
Sep 20, 2004
Mileage
165,673 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 24, 2004

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MICHELIN, MXV4, 195/65R15.*AK

NHTSA ID
10094305
Incident
Sep 24, 2004

Manufacturer communications

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

C00009

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION.

TJ3656330

Rubber cushion

Special Tools Bu

The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.

Service Manager

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations

356EN01

EQUIPMENT

VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App

Service Manager

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

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

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 940 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998200—
1997100—
1996000—
1995270152.1
1994Viewing410152.2
1993231157.1
1992160143.8
1991112263.3
1990101—

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.