AI Damage1983 Volvo 240: common problems
Owners of the 1983 Volvo 240 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 83% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (83% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The installation of the wire harness is crumbling into dust and the wires are exposed underneath the engine compartment. The dealership is aware of the problem.. Consumer stated the main power from alternator to starter had bad insulation and major portions of the copper cable were exposed, virtually the fuel…
Improper design of the cable caused the clutch cable to fail. Yh
I need recall #84v017000 dated 03/84 on this 1983 volvo glt please. I want to be able to read the recall verbatim that was published re:electrical system,alternator;regulator;starter. Thank you very much for help to me on this matter.
Vehicle stalls at low speeds and there are no brakes when this happens. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 240 has 9 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 6, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1983 Volvo 240?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%), stalls while driving (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1983 Volvo 240?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1983 Volvo 240 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1983 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.