1987 Volvo 240 problems

General information about Volvo-240
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Volvo 200 Series (or 240 and 260 Series) is a range of mid-size cars produced by Swedish company Volvo Cars from 1974 until 1993, with more than 2.8 million total units sold worldwide. Like the Volvo 140 Series (1966 to 1974), from which it was developed, it was designed by Jan Wilsgaard.

The series overlapped production of the Volvo 700 Series (1982 to 1992). As the 240 Series remained popular, only the 260 Series was displaced by the 700 Series, which Volvo marketed alongside the 240 for another decade. The 700 was replaced by the 900 Series in 1992, a year before the 240 was discontinued. Production of the 240 ended on 14 May 1993, after nearly 20 years, with the basic platform and architecture lasting 27 years, if the production run of the original 140 Series is aggregated.

History

The Volvo 240 and 260 series were introduced in the autumn of 1974, and was initially available as six variations of the 240 Series (242L, 242DL, 244DL, 244GL, 245L and 245DL) and two variations of the 260 Series (264DL and 264GL). The 240 Series was available as a sedan (with two or four doors) or a station wagon, however, the 260 Series was available as a coupé (262C Bertone), two-door sedan, four-door sedan, or station wagon. The 200 looked much like the earlier 140 and 164, they shared the same basic body shell and were largely identical from the cowl rearward. However, the 200 incorporated many of the features and design elements tried in the Volvo VESC ESV in 1972, which was a prototype experiment in car safety. The overall safety of the driver and passengers in the event of a crash was greatly improved with very large front and rear end crumple zones. Another main change was the new engines offered, which were of an overhead cam design based on the earlier B20. The 260 series also received a V6 engine in lieu of the 164's inline-six.

The 200 Series had MacPherson strut-type front suspension, which increased room around the engine bay, while the rear suspension was a modified version of that fitted to the 140 Series. The steering was greatly improved with the introduction of rack-and-pinion steering, with power steering fitted as standard to the 244GL, 264DL and 264GL, and there were some modifications made to the braking system (in particular the master cylinder).

The front end of the car was also completely restyled with a "shovel nose" which closely resembled that of the VESC prototype vehicle – that being the most obvious change which made the 200 Series distinguishable from the earlier 140 and 160 Series. Other than all the changes mentioned above, the 200 Series was almost identical to the 140 and 160 Series from the bulkhead to the very rear end. In 1978, a facelift meant a redesigned rear end for sedans, with wraparound taillights and a trunk opening with a lower lip. The dashboard was derived from the safety fascia introduced for the 1973 model year 100 Series - the main change for the 200 Series was the adoption of slatted "egg crate" style air vents in place of the eyeball style vents used in the 140/160 and the square clock. All models were available with a choice of four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. Overdrive was also optional on the manual 244GL, while a five-speed manual gearbox was optional on the 264GL and 265GL.

In the autumn of 1975 (for the 1976 model year in America), the 265 DL estate became available alongside the existing range, and this was the first production Volvo estate to be powered by a six-cylinder engine. The choice of gearboxes was also improved, with overdrive now available as an option in all manual models except the base-model 242L and 245L. As before, a three-speed automatic was optional in every model. The B21A engine gained three horsepower; a new steering wheel and gearknob were also introduced.

At the 1976 Paris Motor Show Bertone first showed the stretched 264 TE, a seven-seat limousine on a 3,430 mm (135.0 in) wheelbase, although it had entered production earlier. The raw bodies were sent from Sweden to Grugliasco for lengthening, reinforcing, and finishing. Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden used one, as did much of East Germany's political leadership.

For 1977 the B19A engine with 90 PS (66 kW) replaced the B20A in most markets, although the old pushrod type soldiered on for another two years in some places. This is also the year that the sportier 242 GT arrived.

In 1978 the grille was altered, now with a chrome surround. Rear view mirrors were now black, while the front seats were changed as were the emblems, while interval wipers were introduced. 1978 models were also the first 240s to receive a new paint formula, to help solve the severe rust problems in previous model years.

The 1979 model year brought a full facelift front and rear, the most obvious change being the adoption of flush fitting square headlamps on the DL or rectangular headlamps on the GL, GLE in place of the recessed circular units. The sedans received new wraparound rear lamp clusters and a restyled leading edge to the trunk lid, while the rear of the wagons remained unchanged. The GLE was added while the L was cancelled, and the six-cylinder diesel arrived late in the year. For 1980, the sporty GLT arrived, replacing the GT. For 1981 there was yet another new grille, while the station wagons received new, wraparound taillights. The B21A gained some four horsepower, now 106 PS (78 kW), while the carburetted B23A with 112 PS (82 kW) was introduced in some markets. The Turbo arrived, while six-cylinder models now had a more powerful 2.8-liter engine. 1981 also saw the dashboard altered significantly, which a much larger binnacle in order to bring the radio and clock within the driver's line of sight. The instrument pod itself, which had been unaltered since the 1973 model year 100 Series, was also redesigned.

Incremental improvements were made almost every year of the production run. One of the major improvements was the introduction of the oxygen sensor in North America in late 1976 (1977 models), which Volvo called Lambda Sond and developed in conjunction with Bosch. It added a feedback loop to the Jetronic fuel injection system already in use, which allowed fine-tuning of the air and fuel mixture and therefore produced superior emissions, drivability and fuel economy.

For the 1983 model year, Volvo dropped the DL and GLE labels, selling the cars simply as 240s. In the domestic Swedish market, the 240 could be had with a 2.1 or 2.3-liter engine (more options were available in export), but the bigger engine always came coupled with a five-speed transmission and tinted windows. The 1983s also received wider side trim and all models had the larger taillights introduced on the previous year's GLT model. A B23E-engined GLE variant was also added (not available with two doors). Buyers protested against the lack of grades and they returned for 1984. A new manual gearbox also arrived for 1984, while a four-speed automatic option was available in the GL. The GLT and Turbo versions received a taller grille.

While Volvo had been planning to discontinue the 200-series since the early 1980s, the design kept selling well and Volvo provided steady updates. In late 1991, for the 1992 model year, it received 160 detail improvements including changes to the heater controls, heated rear view mirrors, and revised front seats. For the final, 1993 model year, air conditioning units were upgraded to use R-134a rather than the ozone-depleting R-12 (Freon).

About one-third of all 240s sold were station wagons, which featured very large cargo space of 41 cubic feet (1.2 m3). They could be outfitted with a rear-facing foldable jumpseat in the passenger area, making the wagon a seven-passenger vehicle. The jumpseat came with three-point seat belts, and wagons were designed to have a reinforced floor section, protecting the occupants of the jumpseat in the event of a rear-end collision.

A 1993 Volvo 240DL was driven by IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who stopped driving it when he was told the car was too dangerous due to outdated safety design two decades later.

The last 200 produced was a blue station wagon built to the Italian specification and named the "Polar Italia", currently displayed at the Volvo World Museum. It was manufactured the 14th May 1993.

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Common 1987 Volvo 240 problems

The Volvo 240, produced from 1974 to 1993, is known for its robust design and long-lasting nature. However, there are some common issues that owners of this car might encounter, based on complaints from owners.

Flame Trap System: The Volvo 240 uses a flame trap system, which is a safety feature designed to allow the engine to move back and under the car in the event of a serious head-on collision. However, this system has been known to cause oil leaks and idle problems since its introduction in 1976. Volvo still uses this system in their newer models, and it can become clogged up over time, leading to issues.

Transmission Overdrive Inoperative: The overdrive system in the Volvo 240 can become inoperative, causing issues with upshifting and resulting in an arrow being permanently displayed on the dashboard. This problem can be caused by various factors, including wiring issues, solenoid failure, or hydraulic pressure loss in the overdrive.

Fuse Box Corrosion: The main fuse box in the Volvo 240 is located in the driver side kick panel and is susceptible to corrosion from water that can enter the interior. The small contact area of the European ceramic style fuses can also lead to corrosion due to electrolysis. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the fuse box can prevent numerous problems associated with it.

Heater Blower Motor: The heater blower motor in the Volvo 240 is located in the deepest confines of the dash, making it difficult to access and replace. While the motors are of decent quality, they may need to be replaced one or more times during the car's lifetime. Replacing the motor can take several hours for an experienced mechanic and even longer for beginners.

Worn Air Intake Hose & Air Box Thermostats: The Volvo 240 models with Bosch LH electronic fuel injection have a large plastic accordion style intake hose that connects the air mass meter to the intake manifold. Over time, a hole can wear through where the hose touches the inner fender, allowing unfiltered and unmetered air to enter the engine. This can cause erratic behavior and affect the car's performance. The air box thermostat, which routes hot air from the exhaust manifold to aid in cold start performance, can also fail, causing super-heated air to be drawn into the engine and reducing performance.

Lumbar Support Systems: The lumbar support systems in the Volvo 240 seats are very effective but not the best design when it comes to longevity. These systems commonly fail between 50-100,000 miles, causing discomfort for drivers. The bottom seat cushion support grid is also a weak spot, causing drivers to struggle when trying to see over the steering wheel when it fails.

Odometer Gear: The odometer in the Volvo 240 is driven off of the main speedometer drive shaft by a small plastic gear. Over time, the gear can split and lose its grip on the drive shaft, resulting in erratic or complete loss of odometer and trip meter function. This issue can be repaired by the average do-it-yourselfer in about 1-2 hours using a repair kit with instructional DVD.

Fuel Injection Relay: The main fuel pump relay in the Volvo 240 can be prone to failure, causing issues with the fuel injection system. Regular maintenance and inspection of the relay can prevent problems associated with it.

Main Fuel Pump Failure: The main fuel pump in the Volvo 240 can fail, causing the car to have no start or intermittent hard start conditions. When these pumps fail, they usually lock up when the car is hot and may start pumping again when the car cools down. Regular inspection and maintenance of the fuel pump can prevent failure.

Bad Connections at Ignition Control Unit: The ignition control unit connector located in the right front of the engine compartment can develop bad connections, causing no spark conditions in the Volvo 240. Regular inspection and cleaning of the connector and pins can prevent this problem.

In summary, the Volvo 240 is a robust and long-lasting car, but like any vehicle, it can experience common issues that owners should be aware of. Regular maintenance and inspection of these components can prevent many of the problems associated with them.

Are old Volvo 240s reliable?

8 Robust And Ultra-Reliable

Being the first manufacturer to fit 999,999 mph odometers to its cars, Volvo was underlining its vehicle's potential for longevity, and thanks to many galvanized parts, excellent build quality, and almost bomb-proof mechanicals, the 240 continues to spin those digits.

What engine is in a 1987 Volvo 240?

The Volvo 240 1987 comes in Sedan and Wagon. The Volvo 240 1987 is available in Leaded Petrol and Unleaded Petrol. Engine sizes and transmissions vary from the Sedan 2.3L 4 SP Automatic to the Wagon 2.3L 4SP Automatic.

How long will a Volvo 240 last?

I have several 240 customers with well over 300k miles and they still run like a brand new car. Most of their interiors have seen better days, as dash and console cracks, door panels coming apart etc are common fair. The drive train however, if taken care of even a little bit it will last a long, long time.

Are Volvo 240 rare?

Globally, the Volvo 240 is far from a rare vehicle. There were over 2.8 million models built using the 240 designation over its entire run, with a further 177,000 nearly-identical 260s produced during the same period.

Are old Volvo 240s reliable?

8 Robust And Ultra-Reliable

What engine is in a 1987 Volvo 240?

How long will a Volvo 240 last?

Is the Volvo 240 a safe car?

More than anything else, it was the car's crash safety properties combined with the fine driving characteristics which attracted attention when the car appeared on the market the world over. for Highway Safety, IIHS, cited the Volvo 240 Estate as the safest car on the American market.

1987 Volvo 240 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volvo 240 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Power train problems
Exterior lighting problems
Equipment problems
Electrical system problems
Structure problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Volvo 240 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1987 Volvo 240 complaints

The NHTSA has received 7 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Volvo 240.

2010-04-13

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2009-10-22
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENT
Summary: DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP FIXTURE PARTS (NON-COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS CRASH AVOIDANCE - STANDARD NO. 108 IN PART 571). THESE REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP FIXTURES (RIGHT AND LEFT) WERE PURCHASED FOR A 1987 VOLVO 240 WAGON. NOTE THESE SAME LAMP FIXTURES ARE USED IN VARIOUS TRUCKS AND RVS. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND VERSIONS OF THESE NEW PARTS LACKED MUCH OF THE SILVER REFLECTIVE COATING AROUND THE BULB AREA, SUGGESTING THIS IS RECURRING QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEM. JPEG PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST SHOWING HEADLAMP LIGHT ILLUMINATING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE UNSILVERED PARTS OF THE REFLECTORS. SO MUCH SILVER COATING IS MISSING FROM THE LEFT SIDE FIXTURE, THE UNLIT HEADLIGHT BULB CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE REFLECTOR! THE PARTS ARE LABELED ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE LENS AS "DJAUTO MVV111-C1RO (FOR RIGHT SIDE OR C1LO FOR THE LEFT SIDE) 14V 7H DOT SAE HR00" WITH "HB1" IN THE UPPER OUTSIDE CORNERS. THESE PARTS WERE PURCHASED FROM LAMPSANDLENSES - MVP IMPORTS, LLC - FRANK'S FOREIGN AUTO, 595 VALLEY STREET, ORANGE, NJ 07050, TEL # 973-674-2254 ON 10/22/09. A COPY OF THE RECEIPT IS AVAILABLE. NOTE PARTS ARRIVED IN UNLABELED PLAIN BROWN BOXES AND COST $69.99 EACH OR $139.98 TOTAL. *TR

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1999-09-23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: YVFX8850H10
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DETERIORATING EXPOSING BARE WIRES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

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1999-03-31

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1999-01-03
VIN: YV1AX8852H1
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: METAL FATIGUE, CAUSING DOOR TO BREAK AWAY FROM HINGE. VOLVO REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT RELIABILITY. *AK

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1997-03-19

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: THE SPEEDOMETER/ ODOMETER FAILED.

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1997-03-19

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.

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1996-09-10

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1988-01-01
Components: SEAT BELTS
Summary: DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT, ONLY (77,000) MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK

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1995-06-26

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1995-06-20
VIN: YV1AX8847H1
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, VEHICLE GOES INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSTION WHEN TURN IGNITION AND PUT INTO DRIVE. TT

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1987 Volvo 240 problems:

Top 10 Common Issues with Volvo 240 Models

https://www.ipdusa.com/Articles/588/Top-10-Common-Issues-with-Volvo-240-Models

Mar 11, 2011 ... Top 10 Common Issues with Volvo 240 Models · Main Fuses · Heater Fan · OD Relay, Wiring, Switch & Solenoid · Motor & Transmission Mounts · Flame Trap ...

Question: how reliable is a 240? : r/Volvo240

https://www.reddit.com/r/Volvo240/comments/ut4vl5/question_how_reliable_is_a_240/

May 19, 2022 ... The 240 is one of the most reliable cars ever made. Easily exceeding toyotas of the era, since they have not only a bulletproof engine but also ...

240 Air Conditioning Problems - Volvo Forums - Volvo Enthusiasts ...

https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-240-740-940-12/240-air-conditioning-problems-41632/

May 14, 2010 ... Volvo 240, 740 & 940 - 240 Air Conditioning Problems - Hi all! I've searched numerous times, but I must ask. I have a 240, that when I got ...

How reliable are 240s? Be honest : r/Volvo240

https://www.reddit.com/r/Volvo240/comments/wo4vv4/how_reliable_are_240s_be_honest/

Aug 14, 2022 ... A 90s Camry will have a lot of the same issues as a late ('87+ 240) ... They fixed the engine harnesses in 87 or ... Electrical ground connections ...