1988 Volvo 740
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 1988 Volvo 740. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1988 Volvo 740. Newest first.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Driveshaft could contact the fuel tank and score and scrape outer surfaces of the tank at the point of contact.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
16 complaints1 involved a crash5 involved a fire4 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags
I turned the ignition key and the driver's airbag deployed, striking me in the face and chest, knocking me unconscious and damaging my right eye and breast and causing chemical burns on my face and neck. I was transported to the emergency room and spent most of the night at the hospital and…
I turned the ignition key and the driver's airbag deployed, striking me in the face and chest, knocking me unconscious and damaging my right eye and breast and causing chemical burns on my face and neck. I was transported to the emergency room and spent most of the night at the hospital and followup the following day by eye surgeons and retina specialists. I sustained permanent damage to my right eye which resulted in a blind-spot. I was unable to drive or work for a week. I required extensive medical treatment over the course of several months and am still closely monitored by the eye doctor for the damage to my eye (which I have been told will almost certainly result in glaucoma). volvo refused to take any responsibility or made any reimbursement for damages, medical or loss of my vehicle and stalled all efforts through the court system, even after initially indicating to my attorney that they wouldn't contest settlement. My vehicle was 17 years old but was in excellent condition and well-maintained and had relatively low mileage according to all volvo's pr claims. I ended up not having my vehicle at all, because volvo directed that the car could not be repaired until the case was settled and the storage fee at the service shop accumulated to over $3600, more than the value of the car and I finally signed the title over to the service shop. *tr
- Air bags › Frontal
1988 740 air bag malfunctioned. *ts when the consumer turn on the ignition the driver's side air bag deployed. the deployment momentarily knocked the consumer unconscious. the air bag slammed into the right side of the consumer's face and left breast. the consumer sustained a bloody nose and…
1988 740 air bag malfunctioned. *ts when the consumer turn on the ignition the driver's side air bag deployed. the deployment momentarily knocked the consumer unconscious. the air bag slammed into the right side of the consumer's face and left breast. the consumer sustained a bloody nose and eye, chemical burns and immediate swelling of her face. The consumer has also sustained 20% loss of vision in her right eye. *nm
- Air bags › Frontal
While pulling into a parking lot, my airbag deployed at just a few miles per hour without hitting anything.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle was parked for over two hours smoke was noticed coming from hood area. fire department came, opened the hood, and it bursted into flames. it may have been caused by a short circut of the wire harness. Volvo has not been contacted.*ak
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables
Battery cables failed prior to recall notice resulting in and engine fire causing the consumer to recieve burns to the arm and wrist while extinguishing the fire.
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables
Recall on the insulation on the battery cables which could lead to a short circuit, recall not done because of dealer location problems.
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Winshield washers failed, affecting visibility. Also cruise control failure. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
While driving vehicle into garagevehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. Owner turned off vehicle and vehicle started to smoke. Cause unknown. *ak *nlm
- Vehicle speed control
Engine experiences sudden acceleration without warning. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
Driving vehicle at a speed of 50mph, vehicle stalled without warning, resulting in an accident, impact 6:00 position. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Pe96-019 active, electrical short, under the hood fire,after parking the vehicle for 1/2 hour.*ak the fire completely destroyed the engine compartment under the hood, the automobile was declared a total loss by the insurance company, vehicle was parked in the garage.*jb
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables
Vehicle had battery cable short causing erractic lighting operation. *ak
- Air bags
While driving, supplemental restraining system light came on. please describe. *ak
- Fuel system, gasoline
Car was parked in garage for two to three days caught on fire . tt
- Fuel system, gasoline
Car was in park and caught on fire . *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Hole burned through cylinder head, causing engine/radiator to fail. *skd
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Battery cable short
Battery cables may suffer insulation damage that could result in a engine compartment fire.
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 740 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.