1995 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 1995 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
- Airbags931.0%
- Tires & wheels620.7%
- Fuel system310.3%
- Driver assistance310.3%
- Transmission26.9%
- Electrical13.4%
- Other / unspecified13.4%
- Engine13.4%
- Brakes13.4%
- Visibility13.4%
- Seat belts13.4%
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
1995 VOLVO 940 WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR ALSO WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR AND DESTROYED THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE. (TOTALED) THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE AT APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH FRONTAL AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: 18 INCH RIM AND TIRES. TIRE CITY RECOMMENDED 18 INCH SACCHI RIMS AND TIRES FOR VEHICLE. CONSUMER ORDERED THE RIMS AND TIRES AND DID NOT GET TO SEE THEM. CALLED THE MECHANIC, AND HE ADVISED THE CONSUMER NOT TO GET THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SAFE FOR THIS VEHICLE , THEY WERE TOO LARGE. CALLED TO CANCEL THE ORDER, AND THEY WOULD NOT CANCEL THE ORDER BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE SPECIALLY ORDERED. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE RIMS AND TIRES. TIRE CITY TOLD THE CONSUMER HE HAD TO TAKE THE RIMS AND TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY ORDERED. AFTER TIRE CITY RECEIVED THE RIMS AND TIRES THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO PUT THEM ON VEHICLE, BUT THEY DID NOT TOUCH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THEY GAVE HIM A FREE ALARM FOR INCONVENIENCE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER HAD TO ORDER FOUR SPACERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO HIM AT HALF PRICE. THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WOULD BE BALANCED, AND THE SPACERS WOULD BE ON, AND VEHICLE WOULD BE SAFE. THEY SAID NOT TELL THE MANAGER. EVERY TIME CONSUMER WAS IN TIRE CITY HE OBSERVED THAT CUSTOMERS WERE UPSET WITH THE WAY THEY DID BUSINESS. THEY SAID OTHER TIRE SHOPS LET CUSTOMERS GO WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THEIR CARS WERE SAFE. THEY PROMISED TO MAKE CONSUMER'S CAR SAFE, BUT THEY DID NOT. THEY LET HIM LEAVE WITH RIMS AND TIRES THAT WERE TOO LARGE FOR THE CAR. THE MECHANICS SAW THE PROBLEM WITH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. BOTH MECHANICS STATED NOT TO GET THE 18 INCH RIMS AND TIRES. *AK .
PIRRELY, P400 TOURING, SIZE P185/65R15, DOT CHFPH1410. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TWO REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK BOTH REAR TIRES SPLIT OPEN. *SC
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
NOTICED GAS SMELL EVERY TIME I FILLED GAS LOOKED UNDER CAR AND NOTICED GAS PUDDLING UNDER CAR. ALSO GAS PUDDLING AFTER PARKING OF CAR. HAVE NOT TAKEN TANK DOWN AS OF YET TO TROUBLE SHOOT PROBLEM BUT BELIEVE IT TO BE A CRACKED GAS TANK AS THE AMOUNT OF GAS PUT INTO TANK BEFORE LEAKING HAS STEADILY DECREASED. *TR
GASOLINE FUMES IN MY GARAGE, NO APPARENT EVIDENCE OF GAS LEAK IN CAR. THIS IS A 1995 VOLVO SEDAN 940 WITH 80000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. NEXT DAY FUMES GREW STRONGER, WE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM LAWN MOWER GAS. ON THE 3RD DAY THE GAS WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW GAS TANK INSTALLED AT A COST OF $600+. THE GAS TANK ON THE CAR HAD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, JUST FAILED. *AK
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
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND A SHARP TURN WAS MADE, A HISSING SOUND WAS HEARD. ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. A SECOND SIMILAR OCCURRENCE OCCURRED AFTERWARDS , BUT THERE WAS NO COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN WHICH THE OCCUPANT PRESSED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HAPPENED TWICE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
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
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DEALER REPLACED MICRO SWITCH ON FIVE OCCASIONS. WHENEVER THE MICRO SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON WITH TWO HANDS TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. *AK
LOCKING MECHANISM ON SHIFTER FAILED. *TT
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
1995 VOLVO 940 TURBO ODOMETER SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERATIVE. PROCEEDING THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES IS PRIMARY SAFETY ISSUE. INTERNET INVESTIGATION SHOWS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE. COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT AT THEIR WEB SITE TO ALERT THEM. MAYBE YOU HAVE GREATER ACCESS. ODOMETER APPEARS TO BE MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL DEVICE. COULD NOT DETERMINE REPAIR OR ITS COST. IS THIS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE? AL *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: 18 INCH RIM AND TIRES. TIRE CITY RECOMMENDED 18 INCH SACCHI RIMS AND TIRES FOR VEHICLE. CONSUMER ORDERED THE RIMS AND TIRES AND DID NOT GET TO SEE THEM. CALLED THE MECHANIC, AND HE ADVISED THE CONSUMER NOT TO GET THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SAFE FOR THIS VEHICLE , THEY WERE TOO LARGE. CALLED TO CANCEL THE ORDER, AND THEY WOULD NOT CANCEL THE ORDER BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE SPECIALLY ORDERED. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE RIMS AND TIRES. TIRE CITY TOLD THE CONSUMER HE HAD TO TAKE THE RIMS AND TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY ORDERED. AFTER TIRE CITY RECEIVED THE RIMS AND TIRES THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO PUT THEM ON VEHICLE, BUT THEY DID NOT TOUCH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THEY GAVE HIM A FREE ALARM FOR INCONVENIENCE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER HAD TO ORDER FOUR SPACERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO HIM AT HALF PRICE. THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WOULD BE BALANCED, AND THE SPACERS WOULD BE ON, AND VEHICLE WOULD BE SAFE. THEY SAID NOT TELL THE MANAGER. EVERY TIME CONSUMER WAS IN TIRE CITY HE OBSERVED THAT CUSTOMERS WERE UPSET WITH THE WAY THEY DID BUSINESS. THEY SAID OTHER TIRE SHOPS LET CUSTOMERS GO WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THEIR CARS WERE SAFE. THEY PROMISED TO MAKE CONSUMER'S CAR SAFE, BUT THEY DID NOT. THEY LET HIM LEAVE WITH RIMS AND TIRES THAT WERE TOO LARGE FOR THE CAR. THE MECHANICS SAW THE PROBLEM WITH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. BOTH MECHANICS STATED NOT TO GET THE 18 INCH RIMS AND TIRES. *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
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, SMOKE/STEAM WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS PULLED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN WAS SMOKING AND HAD STOPPED RUNNING. WHILE EXAMINING THE FAN, THE RADIATOR RUPTURED SPRAYING COOLANT, CAUSING SECOND DEGREE BURNS. AS THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS NO PRESSURE RELEASE MECHANISM, THE WEAKEST POINT IN THE SYSTEM WAS CAUSED TO FAIL. AN ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER FOR VOLVO MENTIONED THAT IT IS COMMON FOR THE RADIATOR NECK TO RUPTURE WITH AGE AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS TORQUE APPLIED AT THIS POINT BY THE RADIATOR HOSE. TS
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
MY 1995 VOLVO 940, VIN # [XXX], VEERS TO THE LEFT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. REPLACED ROTORS, PADS, CALIPERS AND HOSES, AND TIRES AND ALIGNMENT ARE FINE. I SUSPECT A DEFECT IN ABS SYSTEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
OWNER STATES THERE IS A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD ON BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE, IT SPREADS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, , BLOCKING VIEW OF DRIVER; ALSO, OWNER HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED, BUT IT RETURNED. *AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A LESS THEN 5 MPH REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. 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.
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 .