2005 Volvo VNL: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN WARMER WEATHER CONDITIONS THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH IS INCREASED. IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER IN WHICH THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. 10/26/09. *LJ THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 10/26/09

Owner-reported narrative. 350,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282085 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO VNL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT BUT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE TIGHTENED SOME OF THE STEERING MECHANISMS HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 689,970.

Owner-reported narrative. 689,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365224 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP REFLECTOR LENS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD SURFACE PROPERLY CAUSING EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 638,000. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 12/14/11 *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 638,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376502 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO VNL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY LIGHT AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL BUT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DRAG LINK, LUG NUTS AND THE BOLTS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WOULD NEED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS WOULD ALSO NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77…

Owner-reported narrative. 772,539 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440419 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLVO VNL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHAFT STRIPPED INSIDE THE INTERNAL STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 721,000. UP…

Owner-reported narrative. 721,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661463 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO ISX ST2 HEAVY TRUCK (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. ADDITIONALLY, THE COOLANT COMPARTMENT WAS LOW AND HAD TO BE REFILLED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE CONTACT. THE COOLANT LOW WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 622,253. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 622,253 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088369 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.