Total Complaints
55 filings
VOLVO 740 · model year
55 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990VOLVO740 carries 55 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 5 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 740 is vehicle speed control with 14 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (4) and air bags (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 1990 740. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
55 filings
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 14 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD | 2 |
| WHEELS:RIM | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS HEAD AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLVO 740. WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE SERVICE BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Mileage: 170,000
NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES FALL PART. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A SUPER HIGH SPEED REVERSE (ON ITS OWN FROM ZERO TO PERHAPS 40 MPH?) WHILE MY FOOT WAS JAMMED IN TERROR ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BEFORE I SMASHED INTO A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I SOLD THE CAR LONG AGO, BUT THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I LOVE VOLVO AND STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE SAFE CARS, SO I REGRET TO BRING THIS UP.
Mileage: 65,000
RAPID ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN A 1990 VOLVO 740 TURBO SEDAN. GIVEN THE RECENT PRESS RE TOYOTA, I WOULD JUST LIKE IT KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE MAY EXTEND TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. MY VEHICLE BECAME "POSSESSED" IN A PARKING GARAGE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1996. I WAS ABOUT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND IT WENT INTO A SUPER HIGH SPEED REVERSE (ON ITS OWN FROM ZERO TO PERHAPS 40 MPH?) WHILE MY FOOT WAS JAMMED IN TERROR ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO THROW THE TRANSMISSION INTO FIRST GEAR, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BEFORE I SMASHED INTO A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND FOUND NO RECALLS. I SOLD THE CAR LONG AGO, BUT THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I LOVE VOLVO AND STILL BELIEVE THEY ARE SAFE CARS, SO I REGRET TO BRING THIS UP.
Mileage: 65,000
IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT INTO THE CAR, STARTED IT AND SHIFTED THE GEAR, WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE, FROM PARK MODE TO REVERS MODE TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED IT, THE CAR TOOK OFF IN FULL SPEED BACKWARD AS IF IT WAS CRAZY, HITTING A CAR AND A PASSENGER THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR. AS MY CAR HIT THE 2ND VEHICLE'S OPEN DOOR, IT BOUNCED FORWARD, ALSO IN FULL SPEED. BY THIS TIME, I SHIFTED THE GEAR TO PARK MODE IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR. NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW AND HIT A SUV AND AS THE AIRBAG BROKE, MY CAR STOPPED. THE SUV WAS THEN SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND A PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF IT. BOTH CARS WERE EMPTY BUT THE PASSENGER FROM THE FIRST CAR WAS BADLY BRUISED IN HER SIDE AND KNEE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAD OCCURED AND THE TIRE MARKS REMAINED FROM THE STARTING LOCATION TO THE END BECAUSE I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE ALL THE TIME, NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR FLEW UNINTENTIONALLY. SINCE IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL CASE, NOTHING HAS B
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING OVER A HILL AT 45 MPH, A DEER ENTERED THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE DEER. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT STRIKING TREES. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN WHO DETERMINED, BASED ON THE SPEED AND ANGLE THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB
Mileage: 100,000
THE RADIATOR OPENING TO WHICH THE HOSE ATTACHES [FOR RETURN OF THE COOLANT TO THE ENGINE] CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE RADIATOR WHERE THE HOSE ATTACHES. THE FAILURE IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY IMPACT OR OTHER EXTERNAL FORCES. THE PLASTIC OUT OF WHICH THE RADIATOR IS MADE IS EITHER DEFECTIVE OF INADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM TOLD THAT NO REPAIR IS POSSIBLE. THE ENTIRE RADIATOR MUST BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE FIRE AS A RESULT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.*MR VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AT WORK FOUR HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED UPON DISCOVERING IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME THAT NIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF THE BATTERY CABLES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND LEARNED OF A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE 740 MODELS. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTER CABLE CAME TOGETHER AND RAN DOWN A RUBBER TUB THAT SECURED THE INTER FRAME. AT THE END OF THE RUBBER TUBE THE POSITIVE CABLE RAN ACROSS THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER TO THE STARTER. THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AFTER LEAVING THE RUBBER TUBE CROSS OVER THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE GOING TO GROUND ITSELF TO THE ENGINE. OVER THE YEARS THE TWO CABLES RUB TOGETHER TILL THE SHEATING WORN DOWN AND MAKING CONTACT CAUSING THE SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE. THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE ( POSITIVE/NEGATIVE CABLE BURNED ALL
THE REAR WHEEL CRACKED IN HALF, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*JB
Mileage: 130,000
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN GOING 5-10MPH TO A STOP. NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO SPECIFY A PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THICK SMOKE CAME FROM AIR CONDITIONER'S VENTS, SHORTLY AFTER, CONSUMER SAW FLAMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY BURNED BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT TO SCENE. DRIVER SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION.*AK
WHILE ROUNDING A CURVE AT 20MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED TO 50-60MPH. BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE TO SLOW ACCELERATION. VEHICLE FLEW OVER CURB, INTO PARK CRASHING INTO TREE. THANKFULLY, AIRBAG DEPLOYED SAVING ELDERLY DRIVER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO TURN AROUND A CURVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED VOLVO. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO TURN AROUND A CURVE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING UNWANTED AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED VOLVO. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE. *YH
UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION. DRIVER SITTING IN A CARPOOL PICKUP LINE WITH CAR TURNED OFF. DRIVER STARTED CAR IN ORDER TO MOVE IT FORWARD ABOUT 25 FEET( THEN THE INTENTION WAS TO TURN IT OFF AND SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES UNTIL SCHOOL GOT OUT). DRIVER PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND WENT TO GIVE CAR SOME GAS AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD, ENGINE COMPLETLY REVED. TRIED TO JAM ON BRAKES BUT THE CAR ENGINE STILL TOTALLY REVED. SMASHED INTO FORD EXPEDITION IN FRONT OF ME. AIR BAG DEPLOYED HITTING STOMACH ONLY.
DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT OR HAZARD, INCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES:HAZARD IS TO PERSONS GENERALLY. UNSAFE PRODUCT IS THE PART # 71901 GTSTYLING BUG-GARD. SEE EMAIL FROM: TJOHNSON@GTSTYLING.COM I WROTE THAT THEIR DESIGN WAS FLAWED BECAUSE IT DEPENDED ON ADHESIVES. THEY ASKED ABOUT MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL AND FITMENT: IT IS A 1990 740 AND THE PART NUMBER I GAVE WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR IT. CONFORMING TO THE HOOD (WHICH IT DOES) IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS THAT THE OUTSIDE FASTENING DEPENDS ON ADHESIVE DOTS 3M TO STAY IN PLACE AND IT DOES NOT.CORRESPONDENCE BELOW) YOU SENT A REPLACEMENT ONCE; THE ENTIRE SHIELD. THEN YOU SENT A BOX OF BUMPONS AND A BOX OF 3M VELCRO-LIKE DOTS. I PUT 4 ON EACH SIDE AND IT STILL BREKS LOOSE AND WHIPS IN THE WIND ! ! ! ! THE FAULT IS YOURS NOT THE SELLERS AND J.C. WHITNEY IS NOT GOING TO MAKE GOOD ON IT AT THIS LATE DATE ANYWAY. I ALLEGE THAT THE PLASTIC PART FITTING ACROSS THE AUTOMOBILE HOOD IS AT RISK OF BREAKING OFF BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE ADHESIVE DOTS USED TO
DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT OR HAZARD, INCLUDING DESCRIPTION OF INJURIES:HAZARD IS TO PERSONS GENERALLY. UNSAFE PRODUCT IS THE PART # 71901 GTSTYLING BUG-GARD. SEE EMAIL FROM: TJOHNSON@GTSTYLING.COM I WROTE THAT THEIR DESIGN WAS FLAWED BECAUSE IT DEPENDED ON ADHESIVES. THEY ASKED ABOUT MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL AND FITMENT: IT IS A 1990 740 AND THE PART NUMBER I GAVE WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR IT. CONFORMING TO THE HOOD (WHICH IT DOES) IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS THAT THE OUTSIDE FASTENING DEPENDS ON ADHESIVE DOTS 3M TO STAY IN PLACE AND IT DOES NOT.CORRESPONDENCE BELOW) YOU SENT A REPLACEMENT ONCE; THE ENTIRE SHIELD. THEN YOU SENT A BOX OF BUMPONS AND A BOX OF 3M VELCRO-LIKE DOTS. I PUT 4 ON EACH SIDE AND IT STILL BREKS LOOSE AND WHIPS IN THE WIND ! ! ! ! THE FAULT IS YOURS NOT THE SELLERS AND J.C. WHITNEY IS NOT GOING TO MAKE GOOD ON IT AT THIS LATE DATE ANYWAY. I ALLEGE THAT THE PLASTIC PART FITTING ACROSS THE AUTOMOBILE HOOD IS AT RISK OF BREAKING OFF BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE ADHESIVE DOTS USED TO
TIRE THREADS STARTED TO FALL OUT, TIRE WAS HARDLY USED, REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SPARE FROM SALVAGE YARD( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 155/R1587T )
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.