IllustrationFIRE--SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSED BY BATTERY CABLES.
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 reportsBATTERY CABLE INSULATION WORE OFF, CAUSING SHORT CIRCUIT/FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
THE CAR BATTERY CABLE CAUGHT ON FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL. *AK
CAR WAS SITTING FOR OVER TWO HOURS AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL AFTER SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT.*JB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *AK
#PE96-019; BIG BATTERY CABLE WAS FRAYED BECAUSE IT SHORTED OUT BETWEEN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, SOURCE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES IT APPEARED THE ELECTRICIAL POWER CABLE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE STARTER MOTOR CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE STARTER.*AK CONSUMER STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT,AND THEN OBSERVED SMOKE IN HOOD AREA, HE PUULED OVER AN OPENED HOOD, AND THERE WAS FIRE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE BATTERY CABLE WHICH HAD MELTED, CONSUMER PUT FIRE OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER.*JB
PE96-019 ACTIVE, BATTERY SHORT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, HAD TO REPLACE ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS. *AK
THERE IS ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRE DRAIN OF THE BATTERY.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CUT OFF AS SHE WAS LEAVING PARKING LOT, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE DROVE ABOUT 30 FEET AND IT CUT OFF AGAIN.*JB
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.