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Volvo 240Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 139 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on record for the Volvo 240.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints139Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls21975–1994 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Volvo 240 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 240 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'75'76'80'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1994Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/10014 complaints · 0 recalls1992Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls1991Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1990Not rated–/10020 complaints · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/10010 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/10012 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1980Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1976Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Volvo 240 problems

All model years combined: 139 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system327
Vehicle speed control208
Air bags1714
Power train152
Service brakes, hydraulic134
Tires111
Seats82
Exterior lighting72
Structure70
15 other systems364
2 recalls

Volvo 240 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Vehicle speed control86V-129 · 1985–1986 · Sep 15, 1986 · 89,587 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: cables77V-219 · 1975 · Dec 14, 1977 · 40,000 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 240

  1. INADVERT. AIR BAG DEPLOYSEA94015 · 1990–1993 · closed Oct 12, 1994
    Led to recall 94V-185
  2. INADVER.AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE93095 · 1991 · closed Apr 20, 1994
    No recall
  3. BRAKE PERFORMANCEDP89010 · 1988 · closed Nov 16, 1989
    No recall
  4. FUEL SYSTEM RELIABILITYDP89009 · 1985–1987 · closed Oct 18, 1989
    No recall
  5. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONPE86050 · 1985 · closed Oct 1, 1986
    Led to recall 86V-129