IllustrationDRIVER 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
1990 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: 6 of 47 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reportsI 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 …
Read full complaint
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.
ENGINE TIMING BELT FAILURE. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED AND VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. YH
FRONT UPPER STRUT MOUNTS FAILED AND PUSHED A STRUT ROD THROUGH THE HOOD. FAILURE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STABILITY DURING CORNERING OR STOPPING.
WHILE WAITING IN LINE PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 50MPH. APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING, WHEN VEHICLE HIT THE WALL THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE ONCE IT STARTED ACCELERATING.*AK *JB
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
Official recalls
291V075000 · 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.
90V165000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Sep 6, 1990
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE,COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL DAMPER.
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
1EA94015 · Inadvert. Air Bag Deploys
Opened Apr 20, 1994 · Closed Oct 12, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available