- The problem
- Safety belts are designed to be routed under a diagonal cross brace during fastening. The instructional labels for the belt routing are inadequate, and can result in inadvertent release of the belt buckle.
- The risk
- Consequence of defect: safety belt misuse could cause the seat occupant to face greater risk of injury in a sudden stop or vehicle accident if an inadvertent release of the safety belt occurred.
- The fix
- Install labels to instruct the user in proper safety belt routing; also replace safety belt buckles.
Vehicle safety record
1990 Volvo 740 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 47 complaints about the 1990 Volvo 740 with NHTSA, most often about the acceleration & cruise control (14) and the airbags (9). Those complaints describe 16 crashes, 5 fires and 8 injuries. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in May 1991 for the anchorage. For comparison, the 1989 has 41 and the 1991 has 19.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 740 year, for its age
#36 most complained-about 1990 vehicle
- Complaints
- 47
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 16
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 8
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1990 Volvo 740 problems
Share of all 47 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1990 Volvo 740 recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Fuel damper located behind the fuel line and the fuel rail may be improperly assembled. Over time, the solder joints could allow a small amount of fuel to leak.
- The risk
- Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source,could result in a fire.
- The fix
- REPLACE FUEL DAMPER.
What owners say
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47 complaints about the 1990 Volvo 740
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.
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.
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.
Normal everyday use. The seat belt buckles fall part. *Tr
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...
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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.
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...
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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 been done to the car yet and I will probably total that car.
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
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...
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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 way through, both power steering hose burned, oil sending unit and connecting wire, splash pan melted from fire dropping on it, the a/c compressor hose burned to the point where you could see tread coming from the hose. The items were replaced but the a/c wasn't working. *Ph
The rear wheel cracked in half, which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Which resulted in an accident.*Jb
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
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: [email protected] 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...
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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 hold the ends in place. If it does, it poses a threat to pedestrians and the public. Not an automobile, so I took a chance that you are the proper site to report this to. If not, please advise.
Tire threads started to fall out, tire was hardly used, replaced with another spare from salvage yard( dot number: tire size: 155/r1587t )
Vehicle accelerated from about 20 to 65mph due to a piece of a broken gasket falling into the throttle body. Driver had to turn ignition off in order to stop vehicle. Dealer took out the piece of gasket and replaced gasket. *Ak
Booster assist became erratic -upon disassembly bakelite type diaphragm support was found to be broken in 3 pieces-ther are no signs of impact on the exterior of the booster nor has the car been involved in an accident in the last year.It was purchased used so no further history is available. *Ak
While driving at 30 mph, coming to make stop, driver attempted to make a normal braking stop when brake pedal went to floor ,experienced total loss of brakes, causing loss of vehicle control and could have resulted in accident. *Ak
When shifting from park to drive vehicle accelerated with the drivers foot on brake pedal. The vehicle hit a telephone pole. Dealer has not seen the totaled vehicle. *Ak
Driver seat belt "froze" in retracting position, unable to withdraw and fasten seat belt. Technician at dealer said problem probably due to defective inertial reel. Volvo said manufacturer's warranty on seat belt expired after 5 years. *Ak
I feel stronly that I should not have to pay for a repair service (taillight sensor problem) that should have been fixed permanently while the vehicle was under warranty. The srs warning light problem is not only a mechanical issue, but also a safety hazard to the driver, leaving the airbag inoperable. I do not believe that a consumer should have to pay out $1200 to service the srs warning light every time the owner disconnects and reconnects the battery.
I was in an accident going at least 40mph, and I was hit in the front. My air bag did not deploy. I have multiple injuries due to me being thrown into the steering wheel, and the dashboard, and my head hit the rear view mirror. *Ak
Wiring harness under the hood caught fire . The manufacturer was contacted. Please provide further detailes. *Ak
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration resulting in vehicle collision.
Volvo 740: every year compared
All 740 years1990 Volvo 740 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 Volvo 740 | 47 | 2 | F | |
| 1990 Volvo 240 | 20 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1990 Volvo 760 | 14 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 1990 Volvo 745 | 3 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1990 Volvo DL | 2 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 1990 Volvo 780 | 1 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 1990 Volvo 940 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1990 Volvo 960 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1990 Volvo 740
Does the 1990 Volvo 740 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1990 Volvo 740: anchorage (May 1991); storage (September 1990). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Volvo 740?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the acceleration & cruise control (14), airbags (9), electrical system (7).
How many complaints has the 1990 Volvo 740 had?
47 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 4, 1995 and the latest on December 28, 2015. Of these, 16 describe a crash and 5 a fire, and together they report 8 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1990 Volvo 740 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 9 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Volvo 740 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Volvo 740 years have the most complaints?
1990 (47), 1989 (41), 1991 (19). See every Volvo 740 year compared.
What should I do if my 1990 Volvo 740 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data