RoadVitals

1994 Volvo 940 Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints 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.
20
Latest Jul 25, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
49%
of 41 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Volvo 940 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jan 24, 2004
Crash reported

1994 VOLVO 940 SEDAN WAS AT FULL STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (UNEXPLAINED), CAUSING CAR TO CRASH INTO A REGULAR PICKUP TRUCK. BECAUSE OF THE SHORT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CARS, THE IMPACT WAS NO MORE THAN A 2-2.5 MPH CRASH AS EVIDENCED BY MINOR (REALLY SMALL) BUMPER FASCIA INDENTATION AND NO DAMAGE TO BUMPER SYSTEM WHATSOEVER. SURPRISINGLY, THIS VERY MINOR CRASH RESULTED IN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, RESULTING IN SHATTERING THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THIS VERY MINOR CRASH AND THE RESULTING TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ($8 -9,000 + COST TO REPLACE) HAS RESULTED IN THE INSURANCE COMPANY (STATE FARM) DECLARING THE CAR AS A TOTAL LOSS -- ALONG WITH A RELATIVELY LOW FAIR MARKET VALUE (DUE TO THE 189,000 MILES). CAR IS WELL-MAINTAINED WITH A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ANOTHER 200,000 + MILES (BASED ON A VOLVO 240 I'VE OWNED). *LA

NHTSA ID
10054804
Incident
Jan 12, 2004
Mileage
189,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 14, 2002

DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH.T DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009769
Incident
May 10, 2002
Airbags
Filed Nov 17, 2000
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
875156
Incident
Oct 16, 2000
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Nov 1, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. CAR STOPPED AT LIGHT. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF BRAKE AND CAR IMPACTED AT LOW SPEED CAR IN FRONT ALSO STOPED AT LIGHT. NO DAMAGE TO VAN IN FRONT, SMALL SILVER DOLLAR SIZE DENT IN FRONT BUMPER 1/4 INCH DEEP (EST.) AIRBAG BROKE WINDSHIELD AND SEATBELT WAS ACTIVATE AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
735583
Incident
Oct 24, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jul 6, 2000

ARIBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED AT 49,000 MILES, CAUSING AIRBAGS TO BE INOPERATIVE IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
864848
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING 25-30 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
857325
Airbags
Filed Feb 14, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 10-15 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO DELPOY.AIR BAG COVER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUSED FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
856877
Incident
Feb 4, 1999
Airbags
Filed Dec 1, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED A CRASH, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
853551
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 1999
Crash reported

AFTER LOSING CONTROL AND BUMPING INTO A POLE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
849956
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 1999
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
836751
Incident
Mar 24, 1999
Airbags
Filed Dec 22, 1998
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS STOPPED AT A TRFFIC LIGHT/ LIGHT CHANGED VEHICLE COMMENCED ON. CONSUMER HIT THE REAR OF FRONT VEHICLE AT APPROX 5 MPH OR LESS. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THIS LOW SPEED IMPACT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
832577
Incident
Nov 7, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jun 17, 1998
Crash reported

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR, TRAVELING LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WITHOUT REASON. THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
824419
Airbags
Filed Feb 9, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY HIT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
821393
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jun 16, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THEN IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED UNEXPECTANTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE GARAGE. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID
813102
Incident
Jun 15, 1997
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 1996

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG.

NHTSA ID
507075
Incident
Aug 2, 1996
Airbags
Filed Sep 11, 1995
Crash reported

DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT WITH A DEER. TT

NHTSA ID
971896
Incident
Sep 9, 1995

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 .