Volvo 240 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 129 consumer complaints across the 10 model years of the Volvo 240 (1983–1993) that have at least 5 complaints. 1992 has the most, with 22. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (30 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All 240 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 63 | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 22 | 159,525 | 0 | 64 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 17 | 175,500 | 0 | 64 | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 20 | 129,000 | 0 | 64 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 17 | 78,000 | 0 | 64 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 10 | 102,000 | 0 | 63 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 6 | — | 0 | 64 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 12 | 155,000 | 1 | 64 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 0 | 64 | — | Not enough data |
| 1983 | 6 | — | 0 | 64 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Electrical system30 25%
- Vehicle speed control18 15%
- Air bags17 14%
- Brakes15 13%
- Transmission and drivetrain13 11%
- Tires10 8.5%
- Seats8 6.8%
- Exterior lighting7 5.9%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
1988: “I was driving to work and it was dark and foggy. I was going slowly around a curve, at the speed limit about 20mph, and a teenage driver, driving alone without a permit drove through a yield sign from the right directly into my path. I had about 8 feet to stop and could not, and t-boned into the drivers side. I had my seat belt on but I was thrown forward and my head hit the windshield and my head left a swell in the windshield, like a lump or dent, and the glass was shattered somewhat but all still intact. …”
NHTSA complaint #10649266, filed 2014-10, 50,000 miles1993: “I own a 1993 Volvo 240 sedan. I am selling it and upon removing the temporary use spare to clean out the trunk, I saw that the tread has separated in a section about one foot of the circumphrence. This tire has never been used, it has always been in the trunk. The following information is provided for identification purposes: firestone temporary use only 155r 15 90 q made in spain DOT f7p7 b2et 472.”
NHTSA complaint #10079254, filed 2004-07, 5 miles1990: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10433575, filed 2011-10, 2,000 milesOther Volvo models
1,531 complaintsVolvo S60
1,263 complaintsVolvo S80
953 complaintsVolvo V70
922 complaintsVolvo XC60
654 complaintsVolvo S70
584 complaintsVolvo 850
566 complaintsVolvo S40
491 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology