Volvo 240 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Volvo 240 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1982 drew the fewest (2) and the 1992 the most (22).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 1994 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 1985 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 17–22 |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 17–26 |
| 1983 | 6 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 20–22 |
| 1988 | 10 | 0 | Tires | — | 19–22 |
| 1986 | 12 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 20–22 |
| 1993 | 14 | 0 | Air bags | — | 20–21 |
| 1989 | 17 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 18–21 |
| 1991 Among the most complaints |
17 | 0 | Air bags | — | 20–22 |
| 1990 Among the most complaints |
20 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 19–21 |
| 1992 Among the most complaints |
22 | 0 | Air bags | — | 20–22 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Volvo 240 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1992 Volvo 240: 22 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 6 (27%); Power train 4 (18%); Tires 3 (14%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 6 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1990 Volvo 240: 20 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 7 (35%); Vehicle speed control 5 (25%); Seats 3 (15%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1991 Volvo 240: 17 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 7 (41%); Electrical system 4 (24%); Service brakes 2 (12%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Volvo 240 years with the fewest complaints
1982 Volvo 240: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 1 (50%); Tires 1 (50%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
1994 Volvo 240: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 1 (50%); Vehicle speed control 1 (50%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
1985 Volvo 240: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 2 (50%); Engine and engine cooling 1 (25%); Power train 1 (25%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Volvo 240 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Volvo 240 recalls
- FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL (1985–1986 model years; 89,587 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1986; 86V129000)
All 1 Volvo 240 recall campaigns · Volvo 240 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Volvo 240 years FAQ
Which Volvo 240 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1982 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Volvo 240 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1992, 1990 and 1991 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Volvo 240 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (32 of 137 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Volvo 240 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the Volvo 240. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Volvo 240 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.