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1985 Volvo 240

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19826
19835
19844
198512
19866
198710
1988
Compare all 240 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Power Train
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
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188,192 miles · Apr 29, 2004
Electrical System

FOLLOWING MULTIPLE BREAKDOWNS FAILED INSULATION ON EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND ALTERNATOR WERE FOUND. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO FIRE AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD PENDING REPAIR. I SEARCHED GOOGLE FOR VOLVO BAD WIRING AND CAME UP WITH MAN…

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FOLLOWING MULTIPLE BREAKDOWNS FAILED INSULATION ON EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND ALTERNATOR WERE FOUND. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO FIRE AND HAVE TAKEN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD PENDING REPAIR. I SEARCHED GOOGLE FOR VOLVO BAD WIRING AND CAME UP WITH MANY HITS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY RELATED DESIGN FAULT RELATED TO THE TYPE OF WIRE USED ONLY IN CERTAIN YEARS IN THE EARLY 1980'S. EARLIER AND LATER CARS SEEM TO BE OK. IT SEEMS THE WIRE IS NOT HEAT RESISTENT.

NHTSA ODI #10068043

Mileage unknown · May 14, 1998
Electrical System

POOR WIRE INSULATION FOR ENGINE WIRE HARNESS CRUMBLES AWAY.

NHTSA ODI #535608

Official recalls

1

86V129000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 15, 1986

IN THE EVENT OF A LOW SPEED FRONTAL IMPACT, ENGINE MOVEMENT COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE CABLE SLEEVE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE ADJUSTING FITTING AND NOT RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION OR IDLE POSITION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED WOULD RESULT, MAKING CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN A POST COLLISION ENVIRONMENT, WHICH CAN CAUSE MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND/OR INJURIES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP89009 · Fuel System Reliability

Opened Jun 13, 1989 · Closed Oct 18, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

FUEL SYSTEM RELIABILITY

PE86050 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened Apr 28, 1986 · Closed Oct 1, 1986

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:A SEARCH OF THE ODI FILES FOUNDNO RECALLS AND ONE SERVICE BULLETIN DATED JUNE 1985, PERTAINING TO 1980740'S THAT ARE PREWIRED.THE BULLETIN GIVES THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR WIRINGIN THE CRUISE CONTROL PEDAL SWITCH CONNECTION.ANALYSIS:THE REVIEW OF THE OWNER COMPALINTS INDICATES THE POSSIBLEEXISTENCE OF A DEFECT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A SUDDEN ACCELERATIONWITH NO DRIVER INPUT.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.