1998 VOLVO VN Recalls, Complaints & Safety

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL WHICH CONTAINS FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS... Read more

Consequence

WHEN OPERATING THE TRUCK "BOBTAIL" WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND TWO OCCUPANTS WITH AN ALLOWANCE FOR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, THE ACTUAL GROSS AXLE WEIGHT MAY EXCEED THE STATED RATING FOUND ON THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Remedy

THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL WILL BE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING MEANS: (1) REPLACEMENT OF THE LABEL WITH ONE WHICH CONTAINS CORRECT INFORMATION; OR (2) REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AXLE TIRES, RIMS OR TIE ROD TUBE OR A COMBINATION THEREOF; OR (3) REPLACEMENT OR RELOCATION OF T... Read more

1,577 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

PARKING BRAKE

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HALDEX MANIFOLD DASH VALVES (MDV) USED IN TRACTOR AND TRAILER PARKING BRAKES. THESE VALVES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." A LOSS OF THE ISOLATION OF THE TWO BRAKE SYSTEM CIRCUITS CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF S... Read more

Consequence

THE LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT VALVES.

13,516 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN ESPAR COMPACT HEATER MOUNTED IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT. THE FUEL-METERING PUMP THAT SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE COMPACT HEATER IS NOT WIRED THROUGH A ROLLOVER PROTECTION SWITCH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR 393.77, "HEATERS."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ROLLOVER, AND THE COMPACT HEATER WAS IN OPERATION, FUEL WOULD STILL BE SUPPLIED TO THE HEATER CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL WIRE THE FUEL-METERING PUMP THROUGH A ROLLOVER PROTECTION SWITCH.

352 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

STEERING:LINKAGES

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A FAL 8.0 FRONT STEER AXLE. THE UPPER STEERING ARM CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER STEERING ARM AND REPLACE IT, IF REQUIRED.

25 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

WHEELS:RIM

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET ALUMINUM DUAL WHEELS, 22.5X8.25, ONE-PIECE, TUBELESS, SUPPLIED BY ACCURIDE/AKW. CERTAIN DESIGN REVISIONS COMBINED WITH PROCESS CONDITIONS CAUSED FATIGUE CRACKS IN THESE WHEELS.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THESE WHEELS.

Remedy

ACCURIDE/AKW WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS.

3,065 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) AND HEADLIGHTS CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE DRL AND HEADLIGHT FUNCTIONS.

Consequence

IF THESE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL CONTROL MODULE.

2,329 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

Defect Description

Consequence

IF THESE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL CONTROL MODULE.

2,329 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC

Complaint Statistics

44 total complaints 1 fires 3 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SUSPENSION	10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	4
EQUIPMENT	3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION	3
TIRES	2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD	2
STRUCTURE:BODY	2

Incident date: Aug 10, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO VN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STEERING DRAG LINK WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTUR... Read more

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DASH BOUNCES AROUND, [email protected]. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH. *SLC

REAR MAIN SEAL ON MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *SLC

Incident date: Oct 17, 2001

THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. NLM

1 injured

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS BEEN RE-ALIGNED AND THE AIR VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *SLC

THE LIGHTS AND COMPUTER IN THE DASH HAVE SHORTED OUT AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS IN THE DASH, THE VEHICLE IS OVERWEIGHT AND HAS EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DASH BOUNCES AROUND, [email protected]. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE DUE TO THE OVERWEIGHT STEER AXLE, DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, VEHICLE VIBRATES AND EXPERIENCES TIRE WEAR. *SLC

CLUTCH WAS REPLACED, FIVE DAYS LATER IT NEEDED ADJUSTED DUE TO NO GREASE NEVER BEING PUT IN, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NEW CLUTCH AND THEY WOULD GET USED TO IT, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT. *SLC

REAR MAIN SEAL ON MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, VEHICLE IS A DAYCAB. *SLC . *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED U-BOLT PROBLEMS. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES HE IS HAVING FRONT TIRE PROBLEMS THAT IS CAUSING VIBRATION, THERE HAVE BEEN 4 SETS OF STEER TIRES IN 260000 MILES, THEY WEAR BAD AND GO WAY OUT OF BALANCE, THE VEHICLE HAS LEANED TO THE LEFT SINCE PURCHASE, BOTH SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, RSB... Read more

CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVE AXLE SHOCKS AND TORQUE ARM WERE REPLACED, THE AIR DRYER WAS REBUILT, THE HOOD SHOCK,THE DASH DIMMER SWITCH AND CAB BLOWER MOTOR WERE ALSO REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE STEREO WAS REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVE AXLE SHOCKS AND TORQUE ARM WERE REPLACED, THE AIR DRYER WAS REBUILT, THE HOOD SHOCK,THE DASH DIMMER SWITCH AND CAB BLOWER MOTOR WERE ALSO REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT VALVE, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, CLUTCH AND CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WERE ALL REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE ALTERNATOR AND IDLE PULLEY WERE BAD, THE AIR DRYER WAS REBUILT, AND THE TORQUE ARM, FOOT VALVE AND SHOCKS WERE REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE CAB VISOR LIGHT, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEAL AND BEARINGS, TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE, SEAT VALVE TORQUE ARM AND HOOD RELEASE, BAD AIR DRYER AND PROPORTION WERE ALL REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THE DASH LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED, DRIVER SUNVISOR WAS REPLACED, A NEW STARTER AND ALL SHOCKS WERE REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE SUNVISOR, TORQUE ARM AND TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE WERE REPLACED AND THE HOOD RELEASE WAS BROKEN.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT VALVE, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, CLUTCH AND CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WERE ALL REPLACED.*JB

Incident date: Oct 17, 2001

THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. NLM

1 injured

Incident date: Oct 17, 2001

THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. NLM

1 injured

Incident date: Dec 13, 2000

THE BRAKES ON THE HUB DID NOT FULLY RELEASE CAUSING A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT HUB OF THE TANDEMS (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

Fire

Incident date: Dec 8, 1998

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF STEERING GRILL. TRUCK WAS LEANING ON THE LEFT SIDE, AND ONE OF THE TIRES WAS WORN OUT BECAUSE OF THE LEANING. COSNUMER FELT TRUCK WAS NOT SAFE. *AK

NHTSA Safety Investigations — VOLVO VN

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE — Closed — Model Year: 2005

DRAG LINK FAILURE

ODI HAS DECIDED TO UPGRADE THIS PE AND CONDUCT FIELD WORK AND TESTING.SUMMARY NUMBERS IN THIS RESUME ARE REPRESENATIVE OF ONLY THE 2005 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT FOR DETAILS.

PE — Closed — Model Year: 2002

HOOD STRUT FAILURE

VOLVO REPORTED FOUR FIELD REPORTS AND 62 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO HOOD STRUT FAILURE ON THE SUBJECT TRUCK/TRACTORS. THE HOOD STRUTS ARE A SINGLE ACTING OIL SHOCK THAT CONTROLS THE RATE OF THE OPENING OF THE HOOD. THERE ARE TWO STRUTS ATTACHED TO THE HOOD ASSEMBLY, ONE ON EACH SIDE. ODI'S CONCERN W... AS THAT A FAILED HOOD STRUT WOULD ALLOW THE HOOD TO DROP ON ONE SIDE, POSSIBLY INJURING SOMEONE WORKING ON THE ENGINE. IN EXAMINING THE LIFE CYCLE OF HOOD STRUTS IN BOTH TRUCK AND PASSENGER CAR APPLICATIONS, ODI FOUND THATALL HOOD STRUTS REQUIRE PERIODIC REPLACEMENT DUE TO NORMAL ?WEAR-OUT.?DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI DISCOVERED THAT WHEN THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED, THE PROBLEM STARTED TO OCCUR ON THE SUBJECT TRUCKS.THE FAILURES RESULTED FROM THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE HOOD STRUT.THIS FINDING WAS SUBSTANTIATED BY FLEETS CONTACTED FROM INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY VOLVO, AS WELL AS VISITS TO LOCAL DEALERS. DURING THISINVESTIGATION, ODI PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:A.REVIEWED WARRANTY/ENGINEERING DATA PROVIDED BY VOLVO;B.CONTACTED THE TWO INITIAL COMPLAINANTS TO GATHER MOREINFORMATION;C.CONDUCTED FIELD TRIPS TO AREA DEALERS TO INSPECT SUBJECTVEHICLES;D.CONTACTED TWO FLEETS FROM OUTSIDE THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA TO DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THESE HOOD STRUTS;ANDE.REVIEWED THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUALS.BASED ON THE DATA PROVIDED BY VOLVO AND THE INFORMATION GATHERED BY ODI, IT IS APPARENT THAT SOME DEALERS AND OWNERS MAY HAVE BEENINSTALLINGREPLACEMENT STRUTS INCORRECTLY.DEPENDING ON WHICH MODEL TRUCK IS BEING WORKED ON, THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT WAYS TO MOUNT THE REPLACEMENT STRUT TO THE FRAME RAILS.FLEETS CONTACTED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION REPORTED NO FURTHER ISSUES WITH THE STRUTS ONCE PROPER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THEM FROM VOLVO. ODI HAS DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH VOLVO AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO REVISE THE SERVICE MANUALS FOR THESE TRUCKS TO INCLUDE PICTURES OF BOTH HOOD STRUT MOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS IN EVERY SERVICE MANUAL, REGARDLESS OF TRUCK MODEL.THEREFORE,IF SOMEONE WAS USING THE INCORRECT MANUAL, THEY WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO VIEWALL THE POSSIBLE STRUT MOUNTINGARRANGEMENTS, REGARDLESS OF MODEL.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED, AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT WITH THE HOOD STRUTS HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY?S RESOURCES ARE NOT CURRENTLY WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY NEW CIRCUMSTANCES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.Read more

DP — Closed — Model Year: 1998

EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION LABEL

There is no summary currently available

EA — Closed — Model Year: 1998

U-BOLT FAILURES ON DRIVE -AXLE ASSEMBLIE

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2026	1	0	View
2025	9	0	View
2024	10	1	View
2023	13	0	View
2022	9	0	View
2021	3	4	View
2020	3	8	View
2019	1	0	View
2018	0	2	View
2016	2	0	View
2015	2	0	View
2014	2	2	View
2013	3	1	View
2012	3	2	View
2011	3	0	View
2010	5	0	View
2009	5	0	View
2008	2	2	View
2007	3	6	View
2006	4	2	View
2005	2	3	View
2004	4	1	View
2003	4	3	View
2002	5	0	View
2001	2	1	View
2000	2	10	View
1999	5	49	View
1998 (current)	7	44
1997	10	0	View
1996	1	7	View

Model	Recalls	Complaints
VNL	232	176	View
VHD	192	20	View
VNM	142	13	View
S60	122	1,657	View
XC60	121	864	View
XC90	113	2,165	View
V70	92	1,181	View
S80	81	1,321	View

1998 VOLVO VN

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations — VOLVO VN

VOLVO VN — All Years Overview

VOLVO VN — Year by Year

Other VOLVO Models