Model year guide

1991 Volvo 940

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1991 Volvo 940 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 50 on record.

1991 Volvo 940 — representative photo
Representative photo

1991 Volvo 940 at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints11

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1991 Volvo 940 recalls 2

Seat Belts:front:anchorage NHTSA Campaign #91V075000 · 06/05/1991

SAFETY BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO BE ROUTED UNDER A DIAGONAL CROSS BRACE DURING FASTENING. THE INSTRUCTIONAL LABELS FOR THE BELT ROUTING ARE INADEQUATE, AND CAN RESULT IN INADVERTENT RELEASE OF THE BELT BUCKLE.

Fix: INSTALL LABELS TO INSTRUCT THE USER IN PROPER SAFETY BELT ROUTING; ALSO REPLACE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #91V010000 · 08/01/1991

IF CONDITIONS OF HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, OVERFILLING OF THE FUEL TANK, AND INSUFFICIENT TORQUE ON THE SENDING UNIT LOCK RING EXIST SIMULTANEOUSLY, FUEL SEEPAGE MAY OCCUR FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK.

Fix: RETORQUE SENDING UNIT LOCK RING; REPLACE LOCK RING GASKET IF FUEL SEEPAGE IS DETECTED. NOTE: THE ONLY 940 MODEL SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL IS THE 940SE.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1991 Volvo 940 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Dimensions & weight

Length
189.4–191.7 in
Width
69.3 in
Height
55.5–56.7 in
Wheelbase
109.1 in
Curb weight
3,168–3,239 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1991 Volvo 940 — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

INADVERT. AIR BAG DEPLOYS Closed

NHTSA #EA94015 · Air Bags · opened Apr 1994 · closed Oct 1994

INADVER.AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT Closed

NHTSA #PE93095 · Air Bags · opened Nov 1993 · closed Apr 1994

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 10

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App

Bulletin 356EN01 · Equipment · Feb 2022

Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)

Bulletin Service Manager · Electrical System, Equipment · Feb 2022

This document is a Service Product Journal: Memory used for VIDA is not fully optimized and below examples of symptoms might therefore occur. VIDA will run slow after some time. VIDA might freeze. Certain operations might stop working. In order to release stor…

Bulletin SPJ3176020 · Equipment · Jul 2016

*No Description

Bulletin SMB00-325 · Equipment · Jun 2016

The Volvo Technical Helpdesk (THD) is a central contact point available to authorized Volvo dealer technicians to assist with difficult to repair situations. If for some reason our technical experts cannot solve an issue directly, it will be escalated appropri…

Bulletin SMB-00-353 · Equipment · Jun 2016

Seat Belt Extender

Bulletin SMB88-001A · Equipment Adaptive/mobility, Seat Belts · Jun 2016

Winter Wheel Applications including rim sizes, steel wheel parts numbers and wheel cover part numbers

Bulletin PB77-006 · Wheels · May 2016

DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 1-4-4 IN IGNITION CONTROL MODULE (ICM), REX-I. *TW

Bulletin 2/28/922X · Electrical System · Feb 1997

NOISE CAN BE CAUSED BY THE LEGROOM ADJUSTMENT LATCH (TRIGGER ARM) PRESSING AGAINST METAL. NOISE CAN ALSO BE CAUSED BY RUDDING BETWEEN PLASTIC PROTECTORS AND THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT SPACER SCREW.

Bulletin 921 · Seats · Oct 1995

TECH DCS GRAM SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS ISSUE DATED 3/20/95. HALIFAX BUILT 940S (PLANT CODE 3), DID NOT HAVE THE NOISE/VIBRATION DAMPER INTRODUCED INTO PRODUCTION CAUSING FUEL SYSTEM NOISE/VIBRATION.

Bulletin DCS 2303 · Fuel System, Gasoline · Oct 1995

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the 940. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Volvo 940

The Volvo 900 Series is a range of executive cars produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1990 to 1998. The 900 Series was introduced in 1990 to replace the 700 Series from which it derived. Prior to the end of its production, the 960 was renamed as the Volvo S90 (saloon) and Volvo V90 (estate), and the 940 was renamed 940 Classic, becoming the last rear-wheel-drive cars from Volvo, until the 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1991 Volvo 940 vehicles on record

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Other Volvo 940 model years

1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1990

1991 Volvo 940 — frequently asked questions

Does the 1991 Volvo 940 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1991 Volvo 940. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1991 Volvo 940?

Across all 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, seats, fuel system.

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.