Volvo 740 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Volvo 740 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 1995 drew the fewest (1) and the 1990 the most (47).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Vehicle speed control | — | — |
| 2002 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 1993 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | Tires | — | — |
| 1992 | 8 | 0 | Seat belts | — | 18–20 |
| 1985 | 10 | 3 | Vehicle speed control | — | — |
| 1986 | 11 | 4 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1987 | 15 | 3 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1988 | 16 | 2 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1991 Among the most complaints |
19 | 1 | Air bags | — | 18–22 |
| 1989 Among the most complaints |
41 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 18–21 |
| 1990 Among the most complaints |
47 | 2 | Vehicle speed control | — | 18–21 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Volvo 740 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.
1990 Volvo 740: 47 complaints
Most-reported: Vehicle speed control 14 (30%); Air bags 9 (19%); Electrical system 7 (15%).
Reports mention 16 crashes, 5 fires, 8 injuries. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1989 Volvo 740: 41 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 15 (37%); Engine and engine cooling 12 (29%); Service brakes 5 (12%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 16 fires, 3 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
1991 Volvo 740: 19 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 11 (58%); Electrical system 2 (11%); Engine and engine cooling 2 (11%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Volvo 740 years with the fewest complaints
1995 Volvo 740: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Vehicle speed control 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Volvo 740 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 47 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 41 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 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 740 recalls
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:HARNESS:FRONT:UNDERHOOD (1985–1987 model years; 106,602 vehicles across all models; filed May 1987; 87V064000)
- POWER TRAIN:DRIVESHAFT (1986–1988 model years; 38,000 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 1989; 89V204000)
- ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP:WATER (1985 model year; 7,390 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 1985; 85V002000)
- STRUCTURE:TAILGATE ASSEMBLY:LATCHES AND LOCKS (1986 model year; 1,068 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 1986; 86V083000)
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS AN (1985–1991 model years; 485 vehicles across all models; filed May 1991; 91V075000)
All 6 Volvo 740 recall campaigns · Volvo 740 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 740 years FAQ
Which Volvo 740 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1995 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). 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 740 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 1990, 1989 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 740 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (44 of 175 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Volvo 740 have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the Volvo 740. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Volvo 740 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.