AI Damage1987 Volvo 240: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Volvo 240 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 17% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 17% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 17% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 17% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
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 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
So much silver coating is missing from the left side fixture, the unlit headlight bulb can be seen through the reflector! The parts are labeled across the bottom of the lens as "djauto mvv111-c1ro (for right side or c1lo for the left side) 14v 7h dot sae hr00" with "hb1" in the upper outside corners.
Engine wiring harness is deteriorating exposing bare wires. The manufacturer has been notified.
Metal fatigue, causing door to break away from hinge. Volvo refused to take responsibility for product reliability.
Driver's seat belt does not retract, only (77,000) miles on vehicle.
Experience sudden acceleration, vehicle goes into open throttle postion when turn ignition and put into drive. 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.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Volvo 240?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, equipment, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (17%), seat belts (17%), unintended acceleration (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 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 1987 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 1987 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.