IllustrationTHE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT. HAD STARTED FORWARD WHEN VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING GEAR. THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
1989 Volvo 740
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 740 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 41 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 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 reports16 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
41 reportsABS BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES SOME STRANGE SOUNDS AND VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS OR STOPPING. YH
AIR CONDITIONER DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BRING INTO VEHICLE COOL AIR. THE ENGINE DESIGN IS CURVED, PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE COILS. MANUFACTURER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
BATTERY CABLES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FIRE.
THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE.
STARTED VEHICLE, BRUSHED SNOW OFF VEHICLE, OPENED DOOR & NOTICED DARK GREY SMOKE NEAR GEAR SHIFT AREA, TRIED PUTTING SMOKE OUT, FLAMES SHOT OUT. FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT IN LEFT FRONT SEAT HEATER SWITCH. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK
DASHBOARD CRACKED.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
ANTILOCK BRAKE FAILURE.
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
Official recalls
191V075000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
May 6, 1991
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: INSTALL LABELS TO INSTRUCT THE USER IN PROPER SAFETY BELT ROUTING; ALSO REPLACE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.
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
1PE96019 · Battery Cable Short
Opened Mar 4, 1996 · Closed May 21, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
BATTERY CABLES MAY SUFFER INSULATION DAMAGE THAT COULD RESULT IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.