1987 VOLVO 740 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS TOTALLY DEGRADED, CAUSING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE WORST BEING OVERPOWER TO THE FUEL INJECTORS CAUSING TOTAL GASOLINE FLOODING OF THE CYLINDERS AND DUMPING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. IN RESEARCHING THIS, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT ALL VOLVO'S FROM 1983-1987 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER FIXED IT. GASOLINE DUMPING IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZZARD, IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN SMOKING IN THE CAR, OR SOMEONE PULLED UP BESIDE ME SMOKING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FIRE AND EXPLOSION. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALLY REPLACED, AND VOLVO SAYS THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, A PROBLEM THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE EXSISTED. IT SEEMS THAT VOLVO EXPERIMENTED WITH INSULATION IN THE EARLY 80S TO MAKE WIRING HARNESSES BIODEGRADEABLE. THAT IS ADMIRABLE, BUT IT WAS ALSO A FAILURE, CREATING MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR VOLVO OWNERS AROUND THE WORLD, AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALL VOLVO'S BUILT IN THIS TIME PERIOD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, BUT IF NOT, ITS A MIRACLE. VOLVO SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THESE THINGS IN THE 80'S WHEN THEY BECAME WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WISPS OF FOUL-SMELLING SMOKE ISSUED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I PARKED THE CAR AND EVACUATED THE OCCUPANTS. THE CAR RESTARTED BY ITSELF, RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN STALLED. DURING THIS TIME, FIRE SPREAD FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ENGULFED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CARGO AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED.

ON 6/18/00 I BOUGHT A VOLVO FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DEALER. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO REVERSE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT , I TOOK IT BACK TO FIND OUT THAT HE WAS NOT REAL DEALER, AND THAT HE LIED TO MY CREDIT CARD HOLDER SAYING THAT I BOUGHT AUTO PARTS WHEN I BOUGHT A CAR. HE SAYS THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER LITTLE THINGS (FUSES, REAR LEFT LIGHT,)

WHEN CONSUMER USED KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SOON AFTER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES, DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NLM

WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS NOT ADEQUATELY RATED FOR THE TEMPERTURE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CUT COMPLETELY OFF WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK