Volvo 245 problems
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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Volvo 245 model years
Common Volvo 245 problems
The Volvo 240 is known for its robust construction and durability, but like any other car, it has its share of common problems. Here are some of the most frequently reported issues based on complaints from Volvo 240 owners:
- Worn Air Intake Hose & Air Box Thermostats: 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.
- Fuel Injection Relay: The main fuel pump relay can be problematic, especially in 1978-1985 Volvo 240 models.
- Engine and Transmission Mounts: The Volvo 240 goes through engine and transmission mounts on a regular basis, with an unusually short lifespan due to the safety-related design that allows the engine to move back and under the car in the event of a serious head-on collision.
- Lumbar Support Systems: The lumbar support systems in Volvo 240 seats, which offer excellent adjustable back support, commonly fail between 50-100,000 miles.
- Odometer Gear: The odometer is driven off of the main speedometer drive shaft by a small plastic gear, which can split and lose its grip on the drive shaft, resulting in erratic or complete loss of odometer & trip meter function.
- Fuse Box Corrosion: The main fuse box in the driver side kick panel is susceptible to corrosion from water that can enter the interior and drip directly onto the fuses, leading to numerous problems.
- Heater Blower Motor: While the Volvo 240 is famous for its powerful heater, the heater blower motor can be buried deep in the dash, and if it fails, replacement can take 3-4 hours for an experienced mechanic.
These common problems with the Volvo 240 are not necessarily defects or poor design but are issues that owners should be aware of when considering purchasing or maintaining this iconic model.
Was there any known issues with the Volvo 240?
The 240 is notorious for having an awesome heater, however, the heater blower motor is buried in the deepest confines of the dash, almost like Volvo built the car around the heater motor, and over time can experience bearing failure, leading to an ear-piercing squeal, or all-out failure.
How many miles can a Volvo 240 last?
While I have seen quite a few Volvo 240s with better than 300,000 miles during my junkyard travels (and so many surpassing 200,000 miles that they aren't even noteworthy), the only discarded Volvo I'd found with more than 400,000 miles prior to this one was a 1990 740 Turbo wagon with 493,549 miles.
Why is Volvo 240 so popular?
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.
What years was the Volvo 245 produced?
In August 1974, Volvo presented a new generation of cars called the 240 and 260 Series. These new models had been developed from the 140 series and were very similar to their predecessors, and with influences from the VESC safety concept car.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Volvo 245 years
We have researched Volvo problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Volvo 245 cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Volvo 245 model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Volvo 245 model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Volvo 245 years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Volvo 245 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Volvo 245 , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Electrical system problems
- Seat belts problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Seats problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Volvo 245 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by 245 model years
There were a total of 2 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Volvo 245 . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Volvo 245 vehicles.
List of Volvo 245 complaints
Volvo 245 1989
- Date Of Incident: 2011-03-03
- Date Complaint: 2012-04-17
- Fire: 1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: 1989 VOLVO 245 DL. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO AN UNKNOWN DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *JB
Volvo 245 1989
- Date Of Incident: 2007-01-31
- Date Complaint: 2007-02-02
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AROUND A CORNER IN TOWN WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE PROPER PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED ALWAYS. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD TO DAMAGE THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS ABOUT 24,000 MILES ON IT.&IT IS A 80,000 MILE TIRE. KELLY SPRINGFIELD NAVIGATOR GOLD. *NM
Volvo 245 1987
- Date Of Incident: 2001-01-05
- Date Complaint: 2001-01-24
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSES BY ITSELF. ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO PUSH IN CLUTCH OR TURN OFF IGNITION. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON. *AK
Volvo 245 1989
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 2000-11-14
- VIN: YV1AX8856K1
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: I HAD HEARD OF A FUEL SYSTEM RECALL ON VOLVOS WAS I CORRECT. INQUIRY ABOUT RECALL. *AK
Volvo 245 1983
- Date Of Incident: 1999-05-05
- Date Complaint: 1999-05-06
- VIN: YV1AX8856D1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: INSULATION FALLING OFF MAIN WIRING HARNESS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
Volvo 245 1982
- Date Of Incident: 1998-06-18
- Date Complaint: 1998-08-19
- VIN: YV1AX4958C1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER TRIED TO ENTER GARAGE WHEN CAR SURGED FOWARD HITTING WALL. QCAW
Volvo 245 1988
- Date Of Incident: 1997-03-04
- Date Complaint: 1998-06-03
- VIN: YV1AX8858J1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE INTO VEHICLE, DRIVE BELTS FAILED.
Volvo 245 1988
- Date Of Incident: 1996-04-17
- Date Complaint: 1998-06-03
- VIN: YV1AX8858J1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED.
Volvo 245 1988
- Date Of Incident: 1997-08-19
- Date Complaint: 1998-06-03
- Fire: 1
- VIN: YV1AX8858J1
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: ELECTRICAL HEATING WIRES IN THE SEAT FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Volvo 245 1988
- Date Of Incident: 1997-03-04
- Date Complaint: 1998-06-03
- VIN: YV1AX8858J1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE INTO VEHICLE, DRIVE BELTS FAILED.
Volvo 245 1985
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 1997-08-11
- VIN: YV1AX88511F
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED/FAILED. *AK
Recalls Volvo 245
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the Volvo 245.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Volvo 245 1992
- Report Received Date: 1992-09-20
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.
- Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT
- Summary: A NUT WHICH JOINS THE WHEEL SPINDLE AND A BALL JOINT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS NOT PROPERLY TORQUED.
- Consequence: THE BALL JOINT AND THE SUSPENSION STRUT CAN ULTIMATELYSEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER. THE WHEEL WILL REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE CAR, BUT LOSS OFSTEERING CONTROL WILL RESULT.
- Remedy: INSPECT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FOR PROPER BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT AND REPLACE THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY IF IT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
- Model: Volvo 245 1987
- Report Received Date: 1988-04-14
- Manufacturer: VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP.
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: MICRO PROCESSOR IN CONTROL UNITS OF CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM CAN BE AFFECTED BY A SHORT DURATION VOLTAGE DROP.
- Consequence: A VOLTAGE DROP WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN ONPOSITION COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION.
- Remedy: REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT.
Are you having problems with your Volvo 245?
