Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1988 Volvo 740. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS AN
- Summary
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVESHAFT
- Summary
- DRIVESHAFT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL TANK AND SCORE AND SCRAPE OUTER SURFACES OF THE TANK AT THE POINT OF CONTACT.
- Consequence
- A SMALL LEAK COULD DEVELOP WHICH COULD , IN THE PRESENCEOF AN IGNITION SOURCE, RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy
- REPLACE FUEL TANK AND/OR INSTALL PROTECTIVE DEVICE BETWEEN DRIVESHAFT AND THE TANK.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (16)
16 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 6 | 37.5% |
| Air bags | 4 | 25% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 12.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 12.5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 6.3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 6.3% |
How 1988 compares with other 740 years
Best and worst 740 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 10 | 3 |
| 1986 | 11 | 4 |
| 1987 | 15 | 3 |
| 1988 | 16 | 2 |
| 1989 | 41 | 1 |
| 1990 | 47 | 2 |
| 1991 | 19 | 1 |
| 1992 | 8 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1988 740 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1988 Volvo 740 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 Volvo 740 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 91V075000 (seat belt), 89V204000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 Volvo 740 problems?
Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (6), Air bags (4), Fuel system (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1988 740 compare with other years?
Among the 1985–1995 Volvo 740 model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1990 the most (47). The 1988 drew 16. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.