VOLVO 940 · model year

1993 VOLVO 940

26 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993VOLVO940 carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 2 fires, 4 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 1993 940 is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by air bags (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2). 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 1993 940. 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.

26
Complaints
10
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

26 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
AIR BAGS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1

Recent Complaints

20070813TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLVO 940. THE VEHICLE HAS DUNLOP TIRES, SIZE P205/60R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS ON THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE BAD AND CAUSED THE TIRES TO FLATTEN. HE STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR SIX MONTHS, WHEN DURING THE COURSE OF ONE WEEK, THE VALVE STEM FAILED ON THREE DIFFERENT TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE DOT NUMBER (P072ARO OR CR54606-2). THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

20051213TIRES:SIDEWALL

IN JANUARY 2002 WE PURCHASED A SET OF 4 DUNLOP WINTER SPORT M2 SNOW TIRES 205/55R16 FOR A VOLVO 940 TURBO SEDAN. WE HAVE HAD 3 SIDEWALL FAILURES OF THESE SNOW TIRES RUNNING ONLY 5700 MILES, WITH 2 ACTIVE BLOWOUTS & 1 LARGE SIDEWALL BLISTER. TIRES WERE USED ONLY IN WINTER. THERE IS HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THE TREADS. THE FIRST TIRE FAILED 13APR02 AT 3000 MI (DOT CODE 3400), ITS REPLACEMENT 12JAN04 AFTER 500 MI (DOT CODE 3702), & THE LATEST FAILED 1DEC05 AT 5700 MILES (DOT CODE 3400).. A DUNLOP-GOODYEAR INSPECTOR @ CONDUIT TIRE, BROOKLYN, STATED THIS WAS SIMPLY ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE, WHICH WAS NOT COVERED WITHOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HE REFUSED ANY DAMAGE RESPONSIBILITY. HE ALSO STATED HE DISLIKES ALL SNOW TIRES & REFUSES TO SELL ANY. A WARRANTY WOULD DO US LITTLE GOOD, AS IT EXPIRES AFTER 3 YEARS, REGARDLESS OF HOW LITTLE USE THE TIRES GOT.. WE DRIVE IN THE NY CITY METRO AREA, A HOME TO POTHOLES. HOWEVER, OVER 35 YEARS OF DRIVING ON THESE SAME ROADS, WE HAVE WORN THROUGH MANY SUMMER &

Mileage: 103,234

20021120FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

WHILE PUMPING FUEL INTO VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD SPILL FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK AND PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE. FUEL TANK AND HOSES/FITTINGS WERE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDANT GARAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A 3 INCH SPLIT TO FUEL OVERFLOW HOSE ON MAIN HOSE CONNECTING FUEL FILLER TO FUEL TANK MAIN HOSE REPLACED. DT

20020912UNKNOWN OR OTHER

INSULATION IS DETERIORATING AND BLOWS THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN IN USE. INSULATION HAS OIL MIXED IN IT AND GETS ON INDIVIDUAL'S HAIR AND CLOTHING IF THEY ARE SITTING IN THE FRONT OF THE VENTS. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT INSULATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

20020225FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE CAR WAS STATIONED IN MY HOUSE DRIVE-WAY AND WAS DESTROYED BY AN SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

20010802AIR BAGS

VOLVO DEALER REPRESENTED STATED SRS CRASH SENSOR WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY. *AK

20010123TIRES:TREAD/BELT

A GOODYEAR EAGLE GTR4 TIRE (P185 65 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHEN THE TIRE SEPARATED, DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC

20001115VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

CAR STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD. CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED WITH GAS PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. TURNED OFF ENGINE IGNITION, GAS PEDAL REMAINED FULLY DEPRESSED. CAR TOWED TO VOLVO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIR.*AK

20000831FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT AND THE WIRES COUGHT ON FIRE BURNING THE FUEL PUMP AND BOTH ARE LOCATED INSIDE THE GAS TANK. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BLOW UP. MY MECHANIC WAS SURPRISE IT DIDN'T. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SHOWED NO REAL CONCERN. THEY INVESTIGATED THE SITUATION AND SAID, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY TO SHORT OUT. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO EXAMINE IT FURTHER OR RECALL THE PART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS OCCURANCE, THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS WE WERE. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I AS THE MANUFACTURER IF THEY WOULD REFIT MY CAR WITH AN EXTERNAL PUMP (LIKE THE NEWER VERSION VOLVOS) THEY SIAD NO. AGAIN THEY SHOWED NO RERAL CONCER FOR ME OR ANY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. THANK YOU.

19990930CrashAIR BAGS

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITHOUT CONTACT WITH ANYTHING.

19990708VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19990419SUSPENSION:FRONT

I PURCHASED MY CAR ON APRIL 20, 1993 AT SNELL VOLVO NOW VOLVO OF RICHARDSON. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE SIDE SO I TOOK IT TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN MONROE, LA. AFTER THAT TIME I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES DUE TO THE SAME PROPLEM. THE DEALER COULD NEVER GET IT TO REPEAT THE ACTION. I HAD TO HAVE MY TIRES REPLACED NEARLY AT EVERY 20K MILES. THEY WOULD SIMPLY BLOW OUT. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NEVER ALIGN PROPERLY. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEN ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1999 I TOOK THE CAR TO A NON VOLVO DEALER TO HAVE IT ALIGNED. IT HAD JUST BEEN TO THE VOLVO SHOP A COUPLE OF WEEK PRIOR FOR A 5K SERVICE CHECK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE STRUT ROD WAS BENT. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP , BUT I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. THE TAIL RIGOROUSLY MOVED FROM

19990325CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

RECALL 93V074000; VEHICLE HAD OIL CHANGE, AND WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP WENT UP HILL AT 62MPH BEHIND A TRUCK. CAR SPEEDED ON THE HILL, HIT THE TRUCK, AND FLIPPED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE IS STILL OPEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *AK

19971029LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL ABOUT 55MPH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE JUST POPPED OPEN, AND THE HOOD WENT INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *AK

19970128CrashAIR BAGS

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

19961017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT 10 OR 15 FT FOWARD, THE VEHICLE STALLED/CUT OFF AND THEN HAD TO RESTART IT. *AK VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND SO INFREQUENTLY THAT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM BY TEST DRIVING, STALLING HAPPENS AFTER A FULL STOP WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, VEHICLE WILL MOVE FOWARD NORMALLY AT LEAST 10 TO 15 FEET THEN ABRUPTLY STALLS, CONSUMER STATES WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED TO TRY AN CORRECT PROBLEM BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED.*JB

19961017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT 10 OR 15 FT FOWARD, THE VEHICLE STALLED/CUT OFF AND THEN HAD TO RESTART IT. *AK VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND SO INFREQUENTLY THAT DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM BY TEST DRIVING, STALLING HAPPENS AFTER A FULL STOP WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, VEHICLE WILL MOVE FOWARD NORMALLY AT LEAST 10 TO 15 FEET THEN ABRUPTLY STALLS, CONSUMER STATES WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED CIRCUIT BOARD HAS BEEN REPLACED TO TRY AN CORRECT PROBLEM BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED.*JB

19960717VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID DOES NOT ALWAYS COME OUT, CAN HEAR THE PUMP WORKING BUT NOTHING COMES OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

19960507CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE VERY SLIGHTLY, AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER MAKING A LOUD NOISE, VEHICLE THEN FILLED WITH SMOKE. *AK

19951011CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AUTO-TRAN: SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK, WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, ENGINE ACCELERATED FORWARD/BACKWARD; UNUSUALLY HIGH ACCELERATION; VEHICLE HIT WALL/OTHER CARS.

Compare 1993VOLVO940 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 VOLVO 940 have?
The 1993 VOLVO 940 has 26 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 VOLVO 940?
The most-complained component for the 1993 VOLVO 940 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1993 VOLVO 940 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.