The 1987 Volvo 740 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 145,087 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS91V0750001991-05-06485 affected
Defect
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.
POWER TRAIN89V2040001989-11-1738,000 affected
Defect
DRIVESHAFT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL TANK AND SCORE AND SCRAPE OUTER SURFACES OF THE TANK AT THE POINT OF CONTACT.
Consequence
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.
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COULD CHAFE AGAINST AN AIR CONDITIONING PIPE.
Consequence
A SHORT CIRCUIT AND MALFUNCTIONING OF THE ELECTRICALSYSTEM, AS WELL AS CHARRING OF THE WIRING INSULATION, COULD RESULT.
Remedy
RELOCATE WIRING HARNESS AND SECURE WITH A NEW BRACKET AND CLAMP.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
2crashes
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
1
Total complaints16
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The insulation on the wiring harness in the engine compartment has totally degraded, causing multiple failures of the engine electrical system, the worst being overpower to the fuel injectors causing total gasoline flooding of the cylinders and dumping gasoline all over the road. This is a major…”
“The engine stalled while the car was in motion. Wisps of foul-smelling smoke issued from the steering column. I parked the car and evacuated the occupants. The car restarted by itself, ran for a few minutes, then stalled. During this time, fire spread from the dashboard and engulfed the entire…”
“On 6/18/00 I bought a volvo from what I thought was a dealer. Two days later, the car would not go reverse. Four days after that , I took it back to find out that he was not real dealer, and that he lied to my credit card holder saying that I bought auto parts when I bought a car. He says that I…”
“When consumer used key to unlock the door soon after smoke started coming from under the hood, within minutes vehicle was in flames, due to possible electrical failure. Nlm”
“Front end collison of volvo 740 sw in which air bags did not deploy. Son hit head and had to be seen in emergency room due to possible concussion. Major damage to front of vehicle, why didn't the air bags deploy? Plan on taking vehicle for service repair estimate, what are the chances of air bags…”
“Left emission station & radio died; pulled over & looked under hood & noticed smoke & air conditioner lines were hot; took to dealer & informed problem w/electric wire harness had shorted out; vehicle burned 2nd time while at dealer. (recall #87v064000). *ak”
“Shortening of air filter pre-heater duct, causing metal duct hose to rub aginst the turb0-charger housing, resulting in a hole in the housing. *ak”
“Front underhood harness recall repairs refused due to model year of vehicle (87v-064). *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Volvo 740 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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