AI Damage1989 Volvo 245: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Volvo 245 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Consumer states vehicle caught fire while driving due to an unknown defect the consumer stated the vehicle suddenly stopped running and he coasted to the side of the road.
I was driving slowly around a corner in town when my left rear tire blew out. The proper pressure was maintained always. There was nothing in the road to damage the tire. The tire has about 24,000 miles on it.&it is a 80,000 mile tire. Kelly springfield navigator gold.
I had heard of a fuel system recall on volvos was I correct. Inquiry about recall.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 245 has 1 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Volvo 245?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, fuel system, tires. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Volvo 245?
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 1989 Volvo 245 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 1989 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.