Volvo9401993Overview/volvo/940/1993/base/

1993 Volvo 940

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 940.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Volvo 940, built on Volvo’s traditional boxy platform and powered by the era‑standard inline‑four that takes a 4.0‑quart oil capacity with viscosities ranging from 15W‑40 to 5W‑30, was offered exclusively with a four‑speed automatic transmission and posted EPA ratings of 17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. Its modest fuel economy and straightforward mechanical layout were complemented by a relatively low incidence of owner complaints—25 overall—with air‑bag issues topping the list and a single recall recorded for the year. Within the broader 1990‑1998 production span, 1993 sits toward the lower end of the complaint spectrum, following the peak in 1994 (44 complaints) and well above the baseline of 1990 (one complaint), indicating a generally reliable period in the model’s history.

Model year19951994199319921991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/22/19 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.7 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase109.1 in
Curb weight3168 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 22 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume94 cu ft
Cargo volume17 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 940 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.8–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 1991 SE Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991SE Sedan 2.3L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.20 sec162 hpRWD
1991Turbo Sedan 2.3L Turbo I-48.40 sec16.60 sec162 hpRWD
1991Turbo Sedan 2.3L Turbo I-48.90 sec16.80 sec162 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
At 10,000 miSuspension System (inspect)
Every 10,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
At 20,000 miSuspension Shock or Strut (inspect)
Every 20,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Driveshaft Support Bearing (inspect) · EGR Valve (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
At 60,000 miEGR Valve (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Volvo 940 sits on an upward slope in a generation that saw complaints escalate from just 1 in 1990 to a peak of 44 in 1994, before plummeting to 1 by 1997. With 25 complaints, it surpasses the 16 of 1992 but remains well below the 1994 high, while its 68 TSBs match the elevated level that began in 1992 and continued through 1995. The year’s single recall and top complaint areas—air bags and vehicle speed control, each with 5 reports—signal emerging safety concerns, though the data does not specify root causes. Additionally, 10 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints underscore a tangible risk profile. Overall, 1993 is not the worst year of the generation, but it falls squarely within a period of rising problems; a buyer should prioritize a thorough inspection and recall verification, and may find later years like 1997 or 1998 to be more reliable choices.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
68
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
25
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 25 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Tires3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Unknown Or Other1
Electrical System1
Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93V074000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 28/04/1993

PLASTIC HOOD INSULATION CLIP(S) WAS(WERE) INADVERTENTLY DROPPED INTO THE HOSE BETWEEN THE CHARGE AIR COOLER AND THE THROTTLE HOUSING WHICH CAN INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE OPERATION. Remedy: CHECK FOR INSULATION CLIPS IN THE HOSE BETWEEN THE CHARGE AIR COOLER AND THE THROTTLE HOUSING, AND REMOVE IF FOUND.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 68 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
356EN012022-02-09EquipmentVIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
Service Manager2022-02-03Electrical SystemShipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery…
ST-001-2020-09-12020-09-18EquipmentMandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians…
ST-001-2020-06-22020-07-02Equipment Adaptive/MobilityMandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians…
ST-001-2020-01-22020-01-30EquipmentMandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 940. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 940 take?

4.0 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 15W-40 API, -14 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 68 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 940 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 940 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.