AI Damage1983 Volvo DL: common problems
Owners of the 1983 Volvo DL filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and tires. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 33% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Left rear tire blewout while driving, the car suddenly swerved to the left and crossed the shoulder and was heading towards oncomming traffic, consumer was unable to control the vehicle and it rolled several times, consumer sustained broken bones (toyo/les schwab spectrum tire size p195/75r14). Nlm
Engine wiring harness failed. Insulation crumbled off of wires causing wires to short out. Effects included starter engaging at road speed causing part failure, vehicle would cease running at road speeds and fail to restart.
Parked car went back to start the car and it accelerated out of control, no one was injured.
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 DL has 2 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1983 Volvo DL?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, tires, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 3.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1983 Volvo DL?
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 1983 Volvo DL 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 1983 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.