Volvo

740

Midsize Cars · model years 1989 to 1992

Includes 740 and 740 Wagon as listed by the EPA.

See all 41 740 trims All Volvo cars

The verdict

Best year: 1992. complaints: 8, below this model's typical 10; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 1990. complaints: 47, about 1.6x this model's typical 29; recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Volvo 740
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Top complaints
1989	17Gas	19	$3,550	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1989
1990	12Gas	20	$3,100	2	47	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 26%, AIR BAGS 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 47, about 1.6x this model's typical 29 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 18 of 100, where higher is better.
1991	8Gas	20	$3,100	1	19	AIR BAGS 46%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%
complaints: 19, in line with this model's typical 19 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 58 of 100, where higher is better.
1992	4Gas	19	$3,275	0	8	SEAT BELTS 25%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 8, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1989: 19 to 1992: 19

Owner complaints1990: 47 to 1992: 8

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Volvo 740 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.