AI Damage1992 Volvo 940: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Volvo 940 filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 16
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 31% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 6% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 5 complaints (31% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (6% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (6% 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
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 16 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries, and the vehicle sustained major damage and was not drivable. The contact will call the dealer and the manufacturer concerning the air bags not deploying. Updated 05/21/07.
While parking vehicle something sparked, causing vehicle to jerk and accelerate. When consumer applied- brake's vehicle kept accelerating,causing the consumer to run into a tree.
Consumer was involved in a 30 mph frontal collision in which the air bags did not deploy. Please give further details.
Driver sustained abrasions and chemical skin burns to both arms when the driver side air bag deployed inadvertently.
While driving 40 mph vehicle stalled. The consumer had the vehicle towed. It was later determined that the flywheel broke. On another occasion the consumer stated it was difficult to get the vehicle to start during cold weather. Once the vehicle was started it was taken to the dealer.
This tire separated, luckily, at low speed. However, the previous three days, I had driven at 70 mph for 1 to 2 hours on numerous occassions. This company clearly has a problem with their engineering/manufacturing processes at all plants and with all tires.
Air conditioner has had to have coolant added every year if not twice a year since purchase.
The defective driver seat belt assembly will not latch, wont protect the occupant in event of an accident.
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 9,040 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 940 has 15 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 16, about average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Volvo 940?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, structure. Total complaints: 16. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (25%), A/C or heater (13%), jerking, harsh shifts (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 Volvo 940?
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 1992 Volvo 940 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 1992 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.