2004 Volvo VNL: complaints, problems and recalls

GLASS MIRRORS VIBRATED TO THE POINT WERE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055494 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WERE TWO RECAPPED TIRES PLACED ON THE REAR-EXTENDED LIFT AXLE OF A DUMP TRUCK. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ONE TIRE BLEW OUT, AND THE OTHER TIRE SEPARATED WHILE CARRYING A LOAD. UPON SPEAKING WITH THE RETAILER THEY REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO THE WHOLESALER. NEITHER CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY, AND REFERRED HER TO J.P. BURNS WHO WAS A RECAPPING SPECIALIST IN NEW YORK. *AK *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119236 at NHTSA ↗

MY VOLVO TRUCK STARTED HAVING LOW POWER PROBLEM AFTER A CERTIFIED VOLVO DEALER REPLACED COPPER CUPS ON IT. TO FIX THAT PROBLEM, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO ANOTHER CERTIFIED VOLVO DEALER, WHO REPLACED EGR VALVE,WHICH WAS UNDER WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO THEM, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT. IT STILL HAD LOW POWER. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM. AFTER TESTING IT FOR THE SECOND TIME, THEY SAID THAT COPPER CUPS WERE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO FIXED THEM. I FOLLOWED THEIR ADVICE AND FOR THE SECOND TIME TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 688,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265699 at NHTSA ↗

DRAG LINK CAME LOOSE WHILE OUR DRIVER WAS PULLING A LOAD ON INTERSTATE 81. HE LOST ALL STEERING AND DROVE INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE TOTAL COSTS FOR REPAIRS TO US WAS $17,022.93. THE TRACTOR HAD JUST BEEN SERVED AND THE DRAG LINK APPEARED FINE AT THAT TIME. WE HAVE NOTICED THEM FAILING IN THE PAST AND CHANGED THEM REGULARLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292527 at NHTSA ↗

WEST BOUND ON 288. DID MY PRE TRIP. I WAS FULLY LOADED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL GOT LIGHT. IT DID NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL. THE TRUCK STARTED DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT. I TRIED TO STEER TO THE LEFT. THE TRUCK DID NOT RESPOND. I STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP WITHOUT CRASHING. I CAME WITH IN A FEW INCHES OF THE GUARD RAIL. THE TRAILER WAS OUT IN THE ROAD. TRAFFIC WAS COMING OVER A HILL AND COULD NOT SEE IT IN TIME. I HAD TO SIT AT THE TOP OF THE HILL AND DIVERT TRA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10294908 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE TIRE SIZE DESIGNATION ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT SHOWN.

Consequence: THE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS INCORRECT GIVING IMPROPER INFORMATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CERTIFICATION LABELS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Reported: 2005-11-02 (November 2, 2005)

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT STEER AXLE AIR SUSPENSION MAY DEVELOP A FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE WHEN THE TIRES BECOME WORN.

Consequence: IF THE WOBBLE PERSISTS AND IS LEFT UNTREATED, DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD IMPAIR VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE FRONT VERTICAL SHOCKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND ADD A HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Reported: 2006-01-26 (January 26, 2006)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH D12D ENGINES, THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER INLET PIPES OR THE PIPES THAT CONNECT THE EGR VALVES TO THE COOLER MAY CRACK OR BREAK.

Consequence: IF THE PIPES OR THE COOLER INLET PIPES FAIL AND ARE LEFT UNTREATED, THE AIR CLEANER AND INNER FENDER MAY BE SUBJECT TO HOT EXHAUST GASES, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE EGR COOLER PIPES AS REQUIRED AND INSTALL A HEAT SHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER WAS MAILED ON FEBRUARY 17, 2006, TO ADVISE ON PRECAUTIONS THAT THE OWNER CAN TAKE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED STARTING MARCH 3, 2006, THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Reported: 2007-12-14 (December 14, 2007)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION (I.E. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS) USED TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION.

Consequence: IF A SHORT CIRCUIT OCCURS AND IS LEFT UNTREATED, COMPONENTS AND WIRING MAY BE SUBJECT TO OVERHEATING WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH FUSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Reported: 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)

VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING 127,764 MY 2001-2008 VHD, VNL, VNM, AND MY 2005-2008 VT TRUCKS. A SEAL MAY FAIL ALLOWING WATER AND CONTAMINANTS TO SEEP INTO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS A SHORT CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR, WHICH OVER TIME COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. SINCE THIS RECALL INVOLVES A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, VOLVO WILL RELEASE THE RECALL IN STAGES AS PARTS ARE RECEIVED. PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE VEHICLES LOCATED IN THE REGIONS/STATES THAT HAVE A CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Reported: 2010-06-24 (June 24, 2010)

VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2006 VNL AND VNM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED WITH A TRW SEALED DRAG LINKS. CERTAIN FACTORS CAN EXIST, WHICH IF LEFT UNTREATED MAY RESULT IN A BALL SOCKET SEPARATION.

Consequence: BALL SOCKET SEPARATION AT THE DRAG LINK RESULTS IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, AND THEREFORE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE BALL SOCKET OR THE DRAG LINK AS REQUIRED IF NECESSARY. AS PARTS ARE LIMITED, VOLVO TRUCKS MAILED AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.