Skip to content
Volvo 740Model year report

1987 Volvo 740 Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
—no mileage reported
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl RWD · 18 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1987 Volvo 740 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1987 Volvo 740. The part named most often is electrical system, with 8 complaints (53% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and vehicle speed control (2). Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, 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

Electrical system: “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 passenger compartment and cargo area. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire before the engine compartment burned.”

NHTSA complaint #741321, filed 2001-02

Engine cooling: “I parked my car and left for approximately 10 minute. When I returned was in flame. The fire consumed the entire car. Trunk and tires were the only things not burned.”

NHTSA complaint #709923, filed 1999-08

Vehicle speed control: “While backing out driveway, change gears from park to reverse vehicle went into open throttle position lost control hitting a curb under the bottom damage. Tt”

NHTSA complaint #958338, filed 1995-01

Air bags: “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 deploying after a front end accident, when they did not deploy on impact?”

NHTSA complaint #704433, filed 1999-03

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

199519961997199819994200020012002
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 1987 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 manual182320$3,350
740/760 RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172018$3,700
740/760 RWD2.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic152017$3,950
740/760 RWD2.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic161917$3,950
740/760 Wagon RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed manual192622$3,050
740/760 Wagon RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic182420$3,350
740/760 Wagon RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed manual182320$3,350
740/760 Wagon RWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172018$3,700

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 1987 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 1987 Volvo 740 have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1987 Volvo 740 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1987 Volvo 740 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 8 complaints (53% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.

Has the 1987 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 1987 Volvo 740 get?

The EPA rates the 1987 Volvo 740 (740/760, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.