Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 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.
FUEL:FUEL SYSTEM OTHER PARTS
- Summary
- 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.
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 (47)
47 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The vehicle speed control is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 47 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 29.8% |
| Air bags | 9 | 19.1% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 14.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 10.6% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 10.6% |
| Power train | 2 | 4.3% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 4.3% |
| Suspension | 2 | 4.3% |
| Wheels | 2 | 4.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 2.1% |
How 1990 compares with other 740 years
Best and worst 740 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1998 | 2 | 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.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 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
1990 Volvo 740 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 Volvo 740 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 91V075000 (seat belt), 90V165000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 Volvo 740 problems?
Owners filed 47 complaints with NHTSA. Vehicle speed control (14), Air bags (9), Electrical system (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 Volvo 740 get?
EPA rates the 2.3 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 19 city, 26 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1990 740 compare with other years?
Among the 1986–1998 Volvo 740 model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1990 the most (47). The 1990 drew 47. 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.