Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Volvo 240, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system7
- Vehicle speed control5
- Seats3
- Service brakes, electric1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Seat belts1
- Power train1
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1990 Volvo 240 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.3 petrol (83 kW, 111 hp) and 2.0 petrol (87 kW, 117 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 petrol | 83 kW 111 hp | 150 |
| 2.0 petrol | 87 kW 117 hp | 31 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
219 first registered in 1990 are on Dutch roads; 39% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde39
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen35
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt31
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse25
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld23
- Band onvoldoende profiel17
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af16
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar16
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
148 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 283 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 219 of these cars first registered in 1990 took their annual MOT test. 67% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1990 the figure was 71%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1990 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.8% | 15.6% |
| Suspension | 8.7% | 8.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| Brakes | 7.3% | 9.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.4% | 2.0% |
| Visibility | 6.4% | 6.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
213 of these cars first registered in 1990 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 328,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
3 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1990 Volvo 240.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 1990 Volvo 240: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10212892 | Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS) |
| 10212891 | VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App |
| 10181041 | 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 repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10178503 | 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 repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10171676 | 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 repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10169394 | 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 module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by |
| 10169393 | 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 module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by |
| 10169391 | Software Installation Policy changes. |
| 10169389 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments |
| 10169036 | 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 repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10169021 | Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : Service Action Notification Re - Mails GROUP : NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : Product Safety & Compliance United States and Canada 00 325 REFERENCE BULLETINS : DATE : SMB00 - 323 and SMB00 - 323A YEAR MONTH DAY SERVICE SERVICE WARRANTY 2013 02 15 MANAGER WRITER ADMINISTRATOR Service Personnel : Read and initial Page 1 of 1 Volvo monitors completion rates for all service actions and will complete notification re - mails to vehicle owners when necessary . Listed below are the latest notification re - mails . Please refer to SMB 00 - 323 and SMB 00 - 323A |
| 10167953 | Software Installation Policy changes. |
| 10167952 | Descripition of Goodwill Policy and Guidelines. |
| 10167915 | Dice Tool bulletin explaining the offer. |
| 10167872 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service Scheduling system enhancements. Improving Service Action/Recall scheduling. |
| 10167861 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: The online bookstore, www.volvotechinfo.com, serves Volvo Retailers, employees, Independent Repairers and customers throughout the United States and Canada by providing easy order-access to service, parts and owners? literature over the Internet. |
| 10167854 | Mandatory Special Tool List |
| 10167817 | This is a Parts Bulletin: Wheel Cross Reference, used to assist in identifying the correct spare replacement wheel, by stamping, name and size. |
| 10167808 | This is a Parts Bulletin: Wheel Cross Reference, used to assist in identifying the correct spare replacement wheel, by stamping, name and size. |
| 10167722 | VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Technical Journal TITLE : Vehicle type and platform identification REF NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : United States and Canada TJ 19245 Technical Service PARTNER : ISSUE DATE : 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North America YEAR MONTH DAY 2014 02 06 FUNC GROUP : FUNC DESC : 0 Publications Page 1 of 3 Attachment Vehicle Type Eng Struc Week Type Eng Sales Body Gear Steer Model Year Plant Chassis range Desc Range XXX 1927 - 9999 0000001 - 0999999 0 - 0 CSC Customer Symptom Codes Code Description 1C Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance / Administrative |
| 10167697 | MIDTRONICS PSC-550S and PSC-700 VEHICLE POWER SUPPLY information |
| 10164860 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments |
| 10164857 | Retailers should only use a Volvo part number on claims for items purchased directly from Volvo. Failure to follow this policy will result in claim adjustments. Warranty reimbursement rates and quantity limits for the parts listed, with the exception of the oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by Volvos Parts Department and based on the pricing in effect on the repair date. For the most current pricing retailers must refer to the parts system. Reimbursement rates for oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by the Warranty Department. Updated p |
| 10164856 | Retailers should only use a Volvo part number on claims for items purchased directly from Volvo. Failure to follow this policy will result in claim adjustments. Warranty reimbursement rates and quantity limits for the parts listed, with the exception of the oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by Volvos Parts Department and based on the pricing in effect on the repair date. For the most current pricing retailers must refer to the parts system. Reimbursement rates for oil part numbers, Wynn?s Airco-clean, R134A and R1234YF are set by the Warranty Department. Updated p |
| 10164851 | Software Installation Policy changes. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERT. AIR BAG DEPLOYS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation