The 1988 Volvo 740 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 38,485 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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
3
1fires1injuries
AIR BAGS
2
1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2
2fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2
2fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1
Total complaints16
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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,…”
“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…”
“While pulling into a parking lot, my airbag deployed at just a few miles per hour without hitting anything.*ak”
“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”
“Winshield washers failed, affecting visibility. Also cruise control failure. *ak”
“Driving vehicle at a speed of 50mph, vehicle stalled without warning, resulting in an accident, impact 6:00 position. *ak”
“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”
“While driving, supplemental restraining system light came on. Please describe. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE96019 Opened 1996-03-04 · closed 1996-05-21
BATTERY CABLE SHORT
BATTERY CABLES MAY SUFFER INSULATION DAMAGE THAT COULD RESULT IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Volvo 740 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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