1990 Volvo 240
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 1990 Volvo 240. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
20 complaints5 involved a crash2 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery · Vehicle speed control
TL* the contact owned a 1990 volvo 240 wagon. The contact stated that the battery was continuously failing. The vehicle was taken to a service station for inspection. The mechanic advised the contact to drive the vehicle into the service bay area. As soon as she shifted from park, the vehicle…
TL* the contact owned a 1990 volvo 240 wagon. The contact stated that the battery was continuously failing. The vehicle was taken to a service station for inspection. The mechanic advised the contact to drive the vehicle into the service bay area. As soon as she shifted from park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact applied the brakes but the vehicle did not respond. The contact made a hard left turn to avoid crashing into the front entrance of the shop and crashed into a wall instead. The building immediately became filled with white smoke and a strong odor of burning rubber. The vehicle only came to a stop due to the obstructions but was still attempting to accelerate. The contact had to be extracted from the vehicle by emergency responders with a sledge hammer, and the wall had to be opened in order to remove the contact from the vehicle. The vehicle was still attempting to accelerate when the contact was removed. However, the vehicle was unable to move any further due to the obstruction of the wall. The ambulance arrived to the scene but because the contact was in a state of shock, refused medical transport. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a police report was filed of the incident. The failure was neither diagnosed nor duplicated. The failure mileage was 129,000.
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery · Service brakes · Vehicle speed control
TL* the contact owns a 1990 volvo 240. The contact stated that when shifting from park, the vehicle began to accelerate and the brakes failed. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the glass doors of the auto department and through the building. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis.…
TL* the contact owns a 1990 volvo 240. The contact stated that when shifting from park, the vehicle began to accelerate and the brakes failed. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the glass doors of the auto department and through the building. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. The mechanic was unable diagnose the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000. Updated 01/05/14*lj the consumer stated the vehicle was initially brought in for repairs due to the vehicle constantly shutting off.*js
- Tires
Goodyear viva 2 tires from walmart have gone out-of-round repeatedly. the mechanics at another tire shop say they see this all the time with walmart goodyears. I gave up on warranty replacements, since they also fail, and I have two daughters and a wife driving these cars with failing tires. I…
Goodyear viva 2 tires from walmart have gone out-of-round repeatedly. the mechanics at another tire shop say they see this all the time with walmart goodyears. I gave up on warranty replacements, since they also fail, and I have two daughters and a wife driving these cars with failing tires. I sacrificed the warranties and put kumhos on the cars. I have 6 volvo 240S and all of them have had failures of walmart tires. goodyear, douglas and uniroyal. 185 -70 - 14. in every case the tires go out-of-round and cannot be balanced. they wobble and shake, because of bubbles in the sidewalls and the tread face, or flat spots in the tread face, where the belts or bands inside the tire are separating and the tire structure itself IS failing. in every case the tires are a few months old and still have the brand new mold nipples, and the tread depth IS almost brand new. I have taken the cars to front end alignment shops and none of them needed suspension parts or alignment - it has been tire failure shaking the cars. I have had at least 8 of these tires fail in this manner. *tr
- Vehicle speed control
Consumer stated that when trying to reverse and without warning vehicle accelerated, causing an accident. Dealer notified. *ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder · Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
While driving brakes failed, causing a collision. vehicle checked by dealer who determined that 3 failed components; master cylinder/ left front caliper, and "booster".*ak
- Exterior lighting
Consumer states he has been having numerous problems with rear tail lights, turn signal assemblies and the front marker light, consumer states that the materials that are being used are very brittle, consumer states over the last 18 months he has noticed numerous cracks, surface distortions, and…
Consumer states he has been having numerous problems with rear tail lights, turn signal assemblies and the front marker light, consumer states that the materials that are being used are very brittle, consumer states over the last 18 months he has noticed numerous cracks, surface distortions, and clouding, also water enters the lens/refelctor assemblies and has further aggravated the problem by introducing road contaminates into the lens housing, as well as causing numerus premature bulb failures. *jb
- Seats
While seating in driver seat noticed seat rocking soon after when seat broke in half. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further information.*ak
- Service brakes, electric
I'm reporting this problem with the volvo (240 dl) because I feel it's a safety issue. When the controller goes out on these vehicles the cars no longer operate, thus creating a very serious hazard, especially if one IS traveling on a congested highway. This has been problem with the volvo 240 dl…
I'm reporting this problem with the volvo (240 dl) because I feel it's a safety issue. When the controller goes out on these vehicles the cars no longer operate, thus creating a very serious hazard, especially if one IS traveling on a congested highway. This has been problem with the volvo 240 dl through 1988 until 1992. Volvo has not recalled any of these cars or corrected the problem, and volvo IS perfectly aware of this problem. Several mechanics and research have indicated to me that the emissions controllers and supporting devices have been failing on these cars. The parts are computerized electronic devices and are very expensive to replace. My last emissions repairs have cost me $1100.00. Failure of the controller prevents the car from operating.
- Vehicle speed control
Cruise control failed.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stopped running at 55 mph due to failure of the ignition control unit.
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
While driving at highway speed the back of the driver's seat fell off. The dealer replaced a bolt but now the seat back appears ready to fall again.
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
While parked with key out of the ignition, consumer's child was able to take the vehicle out of the park position to the neutral position, causing an accident. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
Ecm computer unit failed, causing engine stall.
- Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle's engine compartment caught on fire. Vehicle was totaled. Owner contacted the manufacturer. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Computer command control module failed.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
Consumer stated that while driving down the freeway at about 55mph the vehicle just cut off without any warning. the consumer had to turn on the emergency lights so other cars wouldn't hit them. vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic. the consumer contacted the dealer, they said it was a…
Consumer stated that while driving down the freeway at about 55mph the vehicle just cut off without any warning. the consumer had to turn on the emergency lights so other cars wouldn't hit them. vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic. the consumer contacted the dealer, they said it was a computer malfunction, and it could stop at anytime. the dealer also told the consumer that it was nothing they could do about it because it was out of warranty. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices
The supplemental restraint warning light IS on. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
The vehicle was in motion and the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the consumer to have a near accident.*ak
- Seats
Drivers side seat fell apart. tt
- Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Steering lower knuckle failed (please explain in more detail). tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Inadvert. Air bag deploys
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10212892Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
- 10212891VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
- 10181041Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.
- 10178503Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.
- 10171676Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.
- 10169394This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by the Technical Helpdesk
- 10169393This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by the Technical Helpdesk
- 10169391Software Installation Policy changes.
- 10169389This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments
- 10169036Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.
- 10169021Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : Service Action Notification Re - Mails GROUP : NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : Product Safety & Compliance United States and Canada 00 325 REFERENCE BULLETINS : DATE : SMB00 - 323 and SMB00 - 323A YEAR MONTH DAY SERVICE SERVICE WARRANTY 2013 02 15 MANAGER WRITER ADMINISTRATOR Service Personnel : Read and initial Page 1 of 1 Volvo monitors completion rates for all service actions and will complete notification re - mails to vehicle owners when necessary . Listed below are the latest notification re - mails . Please refer to SMB 00 - 323 and SMB 00 - 323A for information on how and where to find the related Service Action documents in VRC2 and TIE . FEBRUARY RE - MAILS Action Description # of Re - Mails Service Campaign 236 Washer Reservoir Sensor Canada ? 295 Recall 129 Brake Vacuum Pump U.S . ? 3,430 Recall 245 Replace Fuel Lines U.S . ? 48 MARCH RE - MAILS Action Description # of Re - Mails Recall 246 Inspect P / S Return Hose U.S . ? 1,367 Recall 246 Inspect P / S Return Hose Canada ? 95 Recall 251 Inspect Underbody Coating Canada ? 54 Recall 255 TCM Software Upgrade U.S . ? 499 Recall 256 TPMS Warning Message U.S . ? 123 Please be prepared to accommodate vehicle owners that may contact you regarding these actions . ? Fixed Right ? First Time ? Produced in the USA and available as an electronic document . Hard copy documents are printed in USA on recycled paper containing a minimum of 50 % wastepaper and 10 % post - consumer waste . 2013 VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA , LLC
- 10167953Software Installation Policy changes.
- 10167952Descripition of Goodwill Policy and Guidelines.
- 10167915Dice Tool bulletin explaining the offer.
- 10167872This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service Scheduling system enhancements. Improving Service Action/Recall scheduling.
- 10167861This is a Service Manager Bulletin: The online bookstore, www.volvotechinfo.com, serves Volvo Retailers, employees, Independent Repairers and customers throughout the United States and Canada by providing easy order-access to service, parts and owners? literature over the Internet.
- 10167854Mandatory Special Tool List
- 10167817This is a Parts Bulletin: Wheel Cross Reference, used to assist in identifying the correct spare replacement wheel, by stamping, name and size.
- 10167808This is a Parts Bulletin: Wheel Cross Reference, used to assist in identifying the correct spare replacement wheel, by stamping, name and size.
- 10167722VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Technical Journal TITLE : Vehicle type and platform identification REF NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : United States and Canada TJ 19245 Technical Service PARTNER : ISSUE DATE : 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North America YEAR MONTH DAY 2014 02 06 FUNC GROUP : FUNC DESC : 0 Publications Page 1 of 3 Attachment Vehicle Type Eng Struc Week Type Eng Sales Body Gear Steer Model Year Plant Chassis range Desc Range XXX 1927 - 9999 0000001 - 0999999 0 - 0 CSC Customer Symptom Codes Code Description 1C Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance / Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance DTC Diagnostic Trouble Codes Rows beginning with * are modified Note ! If using a printed copy of this Technical Journal , first check for the latest online version . Text In our Service Literature , a vehicle is often referred to by its ? type ? , not its ? model ? . For example the 1999 - 2006 Model Year S80 is type ? 184 ? . You may also see the designation , for example ? P2X ? . This is referring to a platform type or vehicle family . If a document states ? P1X ? or ? 5XX ? as an example , it will apply to all models within the platform type . ? 54X ? will apply to the ? 544 ? , ? 545 ? and ? 542 ? models . ? X ? represents variable data . ? Right first time in Time ? Produced in the USA and available as an electronic document . Hard copy documents are printed in USA on recycled paper containing a minimum of 50 % wastepaper and 10 % post - consumer waste . 2014 VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA , LLC Technical Journal 19245 Platform Model Type Model Years Comments P3 S80 124 2007 - V70 135 2008 - 2010 XC70 136 2008 - XC60 156 2010 - S60 134 2011 - V60 155 2015 - P2 S80 184 1999 - 2006 V70 285 2001 - 2007 XC70 295 2001 - 2007 S60 384 2001 - 2009 XC90 275 2003 - P1 S40 544 2004 - 2012 V50 545 2005 - 2012 C30 533 2007 - 2013 C70 542 2006 - 2013 X40 S40 644 2000 - 2004 V40 645 2000 - 2004 900 940 9
- 10167697Midtronics psc-550s and psc-700 vehicle power supply information
- 10164860This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments
- 10164857Retailers should only use a Volvo part number on claims for items purchased directly from Volvo. Failure to follow this policy will result in claim adjustments. Warranty reimbursement rates and quantity limits for the parts listed, with the exception of the oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by Volvos Parts Department and based on the pricing in effect on the repair date. For the most current pricing retailers must refer to the parts system. Reimbursement rates for oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by the Warranty Department. Updated parts pricing for these parts are provided via a Warranty CPI.
- 10164856Retailers should only use a Volvo part number on claims for items purchased directly from Volvo. Failure to follow this policy will result in claim adjustments. Warranty reimbursement rates and quantity limits for the parts listed, with the exception of the oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by Volvos Parts Department and based on the pricing in effect on the repair date. For the most current pricing retailers must refer to the parts system. Reimbursement rates for oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by the Warranty Department. Updated parts pricing for these parts are provided via a Warranty CPI.
- 10164851Software Installation Policy changes.
- 10164132Description of Goodwill Policy and Guidelines.
- 10163310This is a Service Product Journal: Information Notice. We process the personal data that you provide in connection with the creation of your VIDA account. The purpose of our processing is to administer your VIDA account (from registration to eventual termination of the account), to provide you with all the functionality related to VIDA, to allow access to VIDA and to communicate updates related to VIDA. Log data generated when using VIDA is processed as necessary or appropriate to safeguard the security and functionality of VIDA for example against malware or unauthorized access.
- 10161792Winter Wheel Applications including rim sizes, steel wheel parts numbers and wheel cover part numbers
- 10159065Software Installation Policy changes - Canada
- 10159064Software Installation Policy changes.
- 10159056This bulletin is a service manager bulletin. Seat Belt Extender.
- 10158648Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them.
- 10157931Software Installation Policy changes - Canada
- 10157726This bulletin is a service manager bulletin. Seat Belt Extender.
- 10156289This is a Service Manager Bulletin. This bulletin is a list of equipment recommended by Volvo to it's dealer or any shop maintaining or repairing Volvo's. The equipment can be provided by Volvo's equipment supplier
- 10156288Road Force wheel balancing is the proper tool for diagnosing and repairing such issues and all of our retailers need to be prepared for these issues.
- 10156282This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle Key Not Found
- 10156271Software Installation Policy changes - Canada
- 10156264Winter Wheel Applications including rim sizes, steel wheel parts numbers and wheel cover part numbers
- 10156263This is a Parts Bulletin: Hazmat Return Transportation Documentation and requirements
Every Volvo 240 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.