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Volvo 740Model year report

1985 Volvo 740 Problems

Complaints
10filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
10,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl RWD · 17 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Volvo 740 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 1985 Volvo 740. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 3 complaints (30% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and brakes (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 10,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 64 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the front underhood and 15 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “When pressing on the accelerator pedal vehicle did not accelerate. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership for inspection, mechanic determined that the wiring harness failed.”

NHTSA complaint #10072228, filed 2004-05

Electrical system: “After driving from the grocery store, I stopped at a store and let my granddaughter run in for a coke. While she was inside,I let the car idle. Within 3 minutes, the engine compartment was on fire. No warning lights came on and the motor never gave any indication of a problem. The people in the parking lot told me to get out of the car ,it was on fire, I cut off the car , popped the hood and then started to open the hood but the smoke was so thick, dark tan and peppered with black, that I couldn't get close. The store employees called the fire department, they came and put out the fire. …”

NHTSA complaint #729626, filed 2000-08

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 10,000 miles.

0%0–10100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 10,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

1995199619971999220002001200320042
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1985 Volvo 740 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
740/760 RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed manual202622$3,050
740/760 RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192321$3,200
740/760 RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed manual172319$3,550
740/760 RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172018$3,700
740/760 RWD2.9L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162118$3,700
740/760 RWD2.4L 6-cyl · diesel4-speed manual222824$4,000
740/760 RWD2.4L 6-cyl · diesel4-speed automatic212423$4,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1985 Volvo 740 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 64 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 64 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo 740

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
19928—0—20—Not enough data
199119135,0001—20—Stable
199047115,0002—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198941205,0001—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198816163,0002—20—Stable
198715—3—20—Stable
198611140,0004—20—Not enough data
19851010,0003—19—Not enough data

All Volvo 740 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Volvo 740 have?

NHTSA recorded 10 consumer complaints for the 1985 Volvo 740 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1985 Volvo 740 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 3 complaints (30% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 1985 Volvo 740 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1985 Volvo 740 get?

The EPA rates the 1985 Volvo 740 (740/760, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1985 Volvo 740 reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 10,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 10,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.