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#BS-1986-VOL740-5B891986 Volvo 740
Based on reports from 11 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 11 complaints, 1 crashes, 6 fires, and 4 recalls.
Top reported problems
theres no way to kill this car it will live forever
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
3 owners reported engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline issues — failures commonly reported around 140K miles.
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline (3 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
1986 Volvo 740: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 27% of all reports filed for the 1986 Volvo 740, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 140,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 140K-mile mark.
Electrical System:wiring Issues
Electrical System:wiring complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 1986 Volvo 740, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:wiring-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Seat Belts:front:retractor Issues
Seat Belts:front:retractor complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1986 Volvo 740, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts:front:retractor-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Structure:body:hood Issues
Structure:body:hood complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1986 Volvo 740, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body:hood-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1986 Volvo 740. Recent trend: stable.



Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (4 recalls)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
THE TAILGATE CHILD LOCK CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE WHEN THE CHILD LOCK IS ENGAGED. THE FEATURE TO PREVENT THE TAILGATE FROM BEING OPERATED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE STATION WAGON MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF A CHILD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED IN AN APPROVED RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AS REQUIRED BY MANY STATE LAWS, AND IS ALLOWED TO RIDE IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT, HE/SHE MAY OPEN THE TAILGATE INADVERTENTLY AND FALL OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COULD CHAFE AGAINST AN AIR CONDITIONING PIPE.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVESHAFT COULD CONTACT THE FUEL TANK AND SCORE AND SCRAPE OUTER SURFACES OF THE TANK AT THE POINT OF CONTACT.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 11 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Volvo 740 Model Years
View all Volvo 740 years →1986 Volvo 740: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 1986 Volvo 740?
Is the 1986 Volvo 740 reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 1986 Volvo 740 problems?
Does the 1986 Volvo 740 have any recalls?
What mileage do Volvo 740 problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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Get the Full 1986 Volvo 740 Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 11 owner reports. Know before you buy.