AI Damage1989 Volvo 745: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Volvo 745 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (100% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 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 | 3 | 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.
Within a month of purchasing the vehicle, the battery drained and the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was taken to a local wal-mart and the battery was replaced with a larger sized battery with higher wattage. The failure continued several times after the replacement.
Condition exactly as described in recall 96v085000 but volvo claims my vin no is not covered. My vehicle falls within the model and manufacturing dates covered by the recall. My claim for correction of the problem was rejected by [xxx] service manager hassel volvo 79 cedar swamp road glen cove, n.y.
While parking noticed smoke coming from engine. Opened hood and noticed fire on battery cable. Please provide further information.
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 745 has 3 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Volvo 745?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: battery drain (33%), won't start (33%), smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Volvo 745?
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 745 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.