The 1990 Volvo 740 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 738 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS91V0750001991-05-06485 affected
Defect
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
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.
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
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE,COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
REPLACE FUEL DAMPER.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
14
10crashes4injuries
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
3crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
3
3fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
3
2crashes1injuries
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
1
Total complaints55
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owned a 1990 volvo 740. While the vehicle was in the garage, it suddenly accelerated to approximately 60 mph. The vehicle slammed into a brick wall. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The brake pedal was soft and would not respond. The vehicle was destroyed. The…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 1990 volvo 740. While the vehicle was in the garage, it suddenly accelerated to approximately 60 mph. The vehicle slammed into a brick wall. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The brake pedal was soft and would not respond. The vehicle was destroyed. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 volvo 740. While reversing into a parking space, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a parked vehicle. The service brakes and emergency brake failed to stop the vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact had to…”
“In a parking lot at a local grocery store, my daughter and I went into the car, started it and shifted the gear, while holding the brake, from park mode to revers mode to get out of the parking lot. As soon as I shifted it, the car took off in full speed backward as if it was crazy, hitting a car…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while traveling over a hill at 45 mph, a deer entered the path of the vehicle. The brakes were applied, but the vehicle struck the deer. The vehicle went off the road and down an embankment striking trees. The front end was damaged in the collision. The contact was wearing…”
“Normal everyday use. The seat belt buckles fall part. *tr”
“The radiator opening to which the hose attaches [for return of the coolant to the engine] cracked and broke off. There are cracks in the plastic portion of the radiator where the hose attaches. The failure is not the result of any impact or other external forces. The plastic out of which the…”
“Vehicle fire as a result of electrical problems.*mr vehicle caught fire at work four hours after it was parked. Fire was extinguished and the battery was disconnected upon discovering it was an electrical fire. Vehicle was driven home that night. Vehicle was taken to the mechanic the next day.…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94015 Opened 1994-04-20 · closed 1994-10-12
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Volvo 740 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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