According to the crash test results on this page, Volvo 240s from the 1990-1993 model years had slightly worse performance in front passenger side impacts than the 1982-1989 model years had. If anything, I would have thought that overall results would be *better,* since driver's-side airbags became standard in 1990. Does anyone know what caused the passenger side to become less "safe"? Fluke in the statistics?
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'89 244 GL -- 106,XXX miles (see profile for info on car)

That is only becasue other car manufactureres got better with safety compared to Volvos than previous years. The cars are exactly the same functionally for saftey, with the exception of the front air bags came standard for the driver in '92 and optional before then, but not available at all until '88 or 89. I don't believe there were passenger airbags on the 240 until '93 and maybe even then there weren't any as standard.
The bar was raised when other manufacturers offered both front passengers air bags, but Volvo did this only on the 740/940 of those years.
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'89 245 Sportwagon, '04 V70 2.5T Sportwagon

wonder if it could also be injuries caused by the air bag deployment itself?

vvpete is right on the money, the bar was raised when 740's, 940's and other cars had passenger side airbags installed and the 240 didn't. IMO - that is the only reason the 240 received a good for the passenger side.

Just an FYI - 90-93 all had driver's side airbag, 240 never got a passenger side airbag...

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Jim 90 244DL 243K