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: 3 of 10 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.
Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reports
50,000 miles · Oct 22, 2014
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND IT WAS DARK AND FOGGY. I WAS GOING SLOWLY AROUND A CURVE, AT THE SPEED LIMIT ABOUT 20MPH, AND A TEENAGE DRIVER, DRIVING ALONE WITHOUT A PERMIT DROVE THROUGH A YIELD SIGN FROM THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO MY PATH. I HAD ABOUT 8 FEET TO STOP AND COULD NOT, AND T-BONED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAD MY SEAT BELT …
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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND IT WAS DARK AND FOGGY. I WAS GOING SLOWLY AROUND A CURVE, AT THE SPEED LIMIT ABOUT 20MPH, AND A TEENAGE DRIVER, DRIVING ALONE WITHOUT A PERMIT DROVE THROUGH A YIELD SIGN FROM THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO MY PATH. I HAD ABOUT 8 FEET TO STOP AND COULD NOT, AND T-BONED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON BUT I WAS THROWN FORWARD AND MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND MY HEAD LEFT A SWELL IN THE WINDSHIELD, LIKE A LUMP OR DENT, AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED SOMEWHAT BUT ALL STILL INTACT. NONE THE LESS I REMAINED CONSCIIOUS BUT STILL HAD A MINOR CONCUSSION WHICH GAVE ME HEADACHES FOR UP TO ABOUT 8 WEEKS AFTERWARDS. I SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION BUT THEY FELT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT SAID TO COME BACK IF IT GOT WORSE. I REMEMBER THAT I OFTEN WONDERED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT. IT WOULD SOMETIMES LOCK WHEN I PUT IT ON, BUT SOMETIMES, AND FREQUENTLY IT DID NOT LOCK IN. THAT IS EVEN THOUGH IT LOCKED INTO THE CLAMP, IT WAS OFTEN STILL LOOSE. SO ANYWAY IT WAS LOOSE AND DIDN'T RESTRAIN ME THAT TIME WHEN I NEEDED IT. I DON'T KNOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS IF THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THESE ON THE ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649266
222,350 miles · Jan 14, 2008
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 VOLVO 240. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR INTEGRITY, SIZE 175/70R13 TIRES. SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING NEW TIRES, THEY DEFLATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES TO HAVE THEM INFLATED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND INFLATED AGAIN FIVE DAYS LATER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE TIRES. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 VOLVO 240. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR INTEGRITY, SIZE 175/70R13 TIRES. SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING NEW TIRES, THEY DEFLATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE TIRES TO HAVE THEM INFLATED. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND INFLATED AGAIN FIVE DAYS LATER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE TIRES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 228,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 222,350. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214783
102,000 miles · Jan 10, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1988 VOLVO 240 DL. THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN HE SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW OIL LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME WHERE HE FOUND THAT THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL HAD…
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1988 VOLVO 240 DL. THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN HE SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AN LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW OIL LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME WHERE HE FOUND THAT THE REAR CAMSHAFT SEAL HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE PART FROM THE DEALER AND REPAIRED IT. *AK UPDATED 02/13/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10178287
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2005
Unknown Or Other
THE OUTER FACING ON THE GLOVE BOX FELL OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROADWAY. *TS THE FACING WAS ONLY SECURED TO THE METAL BACKING WITH AN ADHESIVE. THE CONSUMER FELLS THAT IF A PASSENGER HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE SEAT THEY WOULD HAVE SUSTAIN KNEE/LEG INJURIES BECAUSE THE FACING WEIGHS 1 LB 9 OZ. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10139898
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, INTO THEIR GARAGE, CAUSING VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE AGAIN ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY BACK INTO OUR HOME'S GARAGE, HITTING OUR SECOND VEHICLE. TWO OF OUR VEHICLES DAMAGED (INCLUDING VOLVO), TWO NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLES …
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WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, INTO THEIR GARAGE, CAUSING VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE AGAIN ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY BACK INTO OUR HOME'S GARAGE, HITTING OUR SECOND VEHICLE. TWO OF OUR VEHICLES DAMAGED (INCLUDING VOLVO), TWO NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLES DAMAGED, AS WELL AS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE.
NHTSA ODI #727703
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN THE CAR IS COOL AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD HOWLING NOISE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830562
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1997
Power Train
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE GETS STUCK IN NEUTRAL POSITION AND WILL NOT SHIFT TO ANOTHER POSITION. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #813093
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1997
Equipment
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #516628
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN PLACING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE VEHICLE SURGE INTO REVERSE AT HIGH SPEED. TT
NHTSA ODI #967717
Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Tires
WHILE TRAVELING RIGHT REAR (MARSHALL) TIRE EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER HAS TRIED CONTACTING MANUFACTURER BUT HAS RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. *JB TIRE SIZE P185/70R14, DOT NUMBER H20PYP15367. *SLC *YD
NHTSA ODI #560812
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1
DP89010 · Brake Performance
Opened Jun 28, 1989 · Closed Nov 16, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PERFORMANCE
1988 Volvo 240 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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