Total Complaints
2 filings
VOLVO 740 · model year
1998 VOLVO 740
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998VOLVO740 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 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 1998 740 is power train:automatic transmission with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:linkages (1). 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 1998 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.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20001220CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER SHIFING INTO DRIVE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF AND STRIKE A BUILDING. NO INJURY REPORTED, AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
19990331POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR EXPERIENCES AN UNSAFE VIBRATION WHICH IS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. TIRES AND WHEELS ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION OCCURS BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 45 MPH UNDER LIGHT STEADY THROTTLE OR DECELERATION. THE SHUDDER BEGINS IN THE PEDALS, PROGRESSES TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE WHOLE CAR BEGINS TO RESONATE. THIS IS NOTICED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE (4TH) AROUND 1600 RPM. IN 3RD THE VIBRATION IS PRESENT AROUND 1800 RPM TO 2100 RPM AND SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. IN LOW GEAR NO VIBRATION IS FELT AT ANY ROAD OR ENGINE SPEED. I FEEL THE SHUDDERING THAT OCCURS IS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT LOSS OF CONTROL IS POSSIBLE. *AK
Compare 1998VOLVO740 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 VOLVO 740 have?▼
The 1998 VOLVO 740 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 VOLVO 740?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 VOLVO 740 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES.
Is the 1998 VOLVO 740 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.