AI Damage1994 Volvo 940: common problems
Owners of the 1994 Volvo 940 filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 41
- involving a crash
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 49% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 12% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 7% of all complaints
- 7 Electrical system 2% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 20 complaints (49% of all), 11 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (10% of all).
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 3 complaints (7% 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 41 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 | 20 | 11 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
Vehicle was rear ended and airbags did not deploy. Manufacturer has been notified.
No damage to van in front, small silver dollar size dent in front bumper 1/4 inch deep (est.) airbag broke windshield and seatbelt was activate and require replacement.
Consumer was in an accident and her air bag did not deploy.
A check engine light was displayed and the company promised to fix whatever it was indicating. I left it at their shop for inspection, and was told that there was no problem related to the light, and that it was a faulty light. I drove the car for three years with the check engine light always on.
1994 940 volvo sedan with rim blowout problems customer states that two rims blew while driving at 10 miles per hour over a small pot hole* the consumer stated the tire was not damaged.
While driving 60 mph tread separated on rear passenger's side tire. Consumer pulled over, and changed the tire. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. Bridgestone, 185/65r15.
Consumer pulled over, and noticed that driver's side tire tread separated from the sidewall. Consumer was able to change the tire, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Michelin, mxv4, 195/65r15.
Seat belt latch is cracked. Contacted volvo by email, said item not under warranty, thought this might be a safety issue.
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 5,891 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 940 has 15 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 41, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- 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 1994 Volvo 940?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, vehicle speed control, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 41. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (7%), airbags did not deploy (5%), overheating, coolant loss (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1994 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 1994 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 1994 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 2026-11-06.