1988 Volvo 740 Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 163,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns 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 / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Volvo 740 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1988 Volvo 740. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (38% of the total), followed by air bags (4) and fuel system (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 163,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 64 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 15 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin 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.
- Electrical system6 38%
- Air bags4 25%
- Fuel system2 13%
- Engine cooling1 6.3%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #869529, filed 2000-09Air bags: “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 followup the following day by eye surgeons and retina specialists. I sustained permanent damage to my right eye which resulted in a blind-spot. I was unable to drive or work for a week. …”
NHTSA complaint #10662195, filed 2014-12, 163,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 163,000 and 163,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 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).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 740/760 RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| 740/760 RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| 740/760 RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed manual | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,350 |
| 740/760 RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| 740/760 RWD | 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| 740/760 Wagon RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| 740/760 Wagon RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| 740/760 Wagon RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed manual | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,350 |
| 740/760 Wagon RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 20 | 18 | $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
- 91V075000May 6, 1991Seat belts › Front › AnchorageCovers: Volvo 740 1985–1991, 760 1985–1990, 940 1991
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.
- 89V204000Nov 17, 1989Power train › Driveline › DriveshaftCovers: Volvo 740 1986–1988
Driveshaft could contact the fuel tank and score and scrape outer surfaces of the tank at the point of contact.
Recall details for the 1988 Volvo 740 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE96019Battery cable shortClosed · Mar 4, 1996
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.
- 10212891Feb 9, 2022Equipment. VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
- 10212892Feb 3, 2022Equipment, Electrical system. Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
- 10181041Sep 18, 2020Equipment. Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and…
- 10178503Jul 2, 2020Equipment. Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and…
- 10171676Jan 30, 2020Equipment. Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and…
- 10169394Nov 19, 2019Electrical system. This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control…
- 10169393Nov 14, 2019Electrical system. This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control…
- 10169391Nov 9, 2019Electrical system. Software Installation Policy changes.
- 10169389Nov 9, 2019Equipment. This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments
- 10169036Oct 17, 2019Equipment. Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and…
Other model years of the Volvo 740
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 8 | — | 0 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 19 | 135,000 | 1 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 47 | 115,000 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 41 | 205,000 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 16 | 163,000 | 2 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 15 | — | 3 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 11 | 140,000 | 4 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 1985 | 10 | 10,000 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Volvo 740 have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1988 Volvo 740 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Volvo 740 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (38% of the total), followed by air bags with 4.
Has the 1988 Volvo 740 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Volvo 740 get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Volvo 740 (740/760, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1988 Volvo 740 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 163,000 miles and the middle half falls between 163,000 and 163,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.