1996 Volvo WIA: complaints, problems and recalls

1996 CONVENTIONAL CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10176427 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLVO WIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 650,000. UPDATED 3/24/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COLLAPSED SPINDLE BEARING. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM A SORE SHOULDER AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN 2005. UPDATED 6/22/2015 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595787 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEEL BEARING IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT AXLE HAS ALWAYS RUN MUCH HOTTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE, SECONDLY, CONSUMER ONLY GETS 60,000 TO 80,000 MILES OUT OF A PAIR OF STEER TIRES WHICH COULD POSSIBLY BE A RESULT OF PREMATURE STEER TIRE WEAR, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, FRONT END HAS BEEN CHECKED, KING PIN LEANS TO RIGHT. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565111 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TT ALSO, FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED ADJUSTMENT/ HOOD WAS CRACKED/ THERE WAS A MISSING BOLT IN CROSSMEMBER/ THERE WAS A LEAK UNDER THE DASH/THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED/AIR WHISTLE NOISE IN ENGINE/PULLEY ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT/COOL FILTER REPLACED/ BRAKE BELT REPLACED/ LEFT FRONT BRAKE WAS STICKING/NEW BRAKE SHOES WERE NEEDED/ ALTERNATOR AND STARTER SOLENOID REPLACED/ SPEED CONTROL INOPERABLE DUE TO FAULTY WIRE,/HARNESS TO CRANK SENSOR RUBBED, CAUSING INACTIVE ENGINE CODE AND WIRING HARNESS WAS SHORTING OUT. IN ADDITIO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565138 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS LEAKING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565603 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *JG

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565658 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-09-09 (September 9, 2002)

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TWO TAIL LAMPS, BACK-UP LAMP,AND LICENSE TAG LAMP WERE MOUNTED ON INSUFFICIENTLY RIGID MOUNTS.

Consequence: IT MAY NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER OF A REARWARD APPROACHING VEHICLE TO HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE LAMPS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ATTACH THE TWO TAIL LAMPS, BACK-UP LAMP, AND THE LICENSE TAP LAMP ON STIFFER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 31, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Reported: 1996-02-22 (February 22, 1996)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES BUILT WITH A VOLVO 5.7 (12,500 LBS) FRONT STEERING AXLE. DUE TO HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT, THE FRONT STEERING AXLE KING PINS COULD HAVE BROKEN DURING ASSEMBLY. CONTINUED OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A BROKEN KING PIN COULD ALLOW THE PIN TO WORK LOOSE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR A BROKEN KING PIN AND REPLACE THE KING PINS IF BROKEN.

Reported: 1996-03-23 (March 23, 1996)

THE TRACTION SOLENOID EXHAUST CAN BE OBSTRUCTED DUE TO INADEQUATE DRAINAGE AND A BUILD-UP OF ROAD CONTAMINATION BETWEEN THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING. THE OBSTRUCTED EXHAUST PREVENTS THE RELAY VALVE CONTROL AIR PRESSURE FROM VENTING AFTER A DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING TRACTION EVENT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD KEEP THE REAR AXLE SERVICE BRAKES APPLIED WITHOUT ANY BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT BY THE DRIVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SUSPECT VALVE AND INSTALL A NEW VALVE THAT HAS A MODIFIED SOLENOID HOUSING WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR SUFFICIENT DRAINAGE AND A NEW VALVE MOUNTING BRACKET WITH INCREASED HEIGHT TO REDUCE ENTRY OF CONTAMINATION.

Reported: 1996-12-02 (December 2, 1996)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Consequence: THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

Reported: 1997-02-24 (February 24, 1997)

WARNING LABELS IDENTIFYING THE CLIMBING SEQUENCE AND PROCESS WERE OMITTED.

Consequence: PERSONS NOT USING THE SEQUENCE AND PROCESS DURING CAB ENTRY OR EXIT OR WHEN USING THE OPTIONAL BACK OF CAB ACCESS MAY SLIP AND/OR FALL CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: VOLVO HEAVY TRUCK WILL BE PROVIDING WARNING LABELS TO BE INSTALLED BY OWNERS ON THEIR TRUCKS.

Reported: 1997-12-31 (December 31, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DESIGN LEVEL 1, ROCKWELL FF980 SERIES FRONT AXLE. THE FRONT AXLE HUB FLANGE CAN DEVELOP CRACKS DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS.

Consequence: CRACKS IN A HUB FLANGE CAN RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FRONT HUBS WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN LEVEL 2 HUB.

Reported: 1998-10-14 (October 14, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL VALVE SUPPLY LINE WAS NOT PLUMBED THROUGH AN AIR PRESSURE PROTECTION VALVE. IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE, THERE WOULD BE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE 'B' SYSTEM AIR RESERVOIR THAT SUPPLIES AIR PRESSURE FOR THE FRONT STEER AXLE BRAKES.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NECESSARY AIR PRESSURE PROTECTION VALVE.