U.S. public vehicle records

Volvo VNL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

127 owner complaints analyzed

87 distinct recall campaigns

200,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 127 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	25	19.7%
Braking behavior	16	12.6%
Transmission and shifting	11	8.7%
Fuel system concerns	7	5.5%
Electrical and battery issues	4	3.1%
Engine operation	2	1.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

Suspension

Suspension:Front:Hub

Power Train

Electrical System

Tires

Engine

Structure:Body

Steering: 22; Suspension: 16; Suspension:Front:Hub: 15; Power Train: 11; Electrical System: 9; Tires: 8; Engine: 7; Structure:Body: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 37

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 58 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2000: 2; 2001: 16; 2002: 4; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 8; 2010: 11; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 11; 2016: 10; 2017: 5; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 7; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10357873 · 2010-09-27 (September 27, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURERS RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE STEERING DRAG LINK SEPTEMBER 2010. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS DUE TO AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 400,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357873 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10120098 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)

DT: INVOLVING A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER. A DRAG LINK BROKE OFF @60 MPH; IT JUST DROPPED OFF. BOUGHT IT 2 MONTHS AGO. BRUCE LEE SIMONS IS THE INSPECTOR'S NAME WHO INSPECTED THE SEMI. HE STATED HE HAD THE ACTUAL PART, AND HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS EVER REALLY INSPECTED BECAUSE THE PART DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE ON IT. *AK AN ERROR WAS DISCOVERED IN THE ODOMETER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DISPLAY 560K MILES COMPARED TO THE TRANSMISSION DATA OF 630K MILES. THE CABLE SHORT WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL. THE DRAG LINK DROPPED OUT OF THE SOCKET CAU…

Owner-reported narrative. 487,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120098 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10163699 · 2006-07-20 (July 20, 2006)

2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONAL FIRE STARTED IN AXLE #2. *TS THE BRAKE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON AXLE #2 INSIDE WHEEL OF DUALS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163699 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10128728 · 2005-07-14 (July 14, 2005)

DT: CALLER HAD A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. CALLER SAID HE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY IF THE BRAKES FAILED. CALLER HAD IT IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER SAID TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO GUESSED AT WHAT WAS WRONG AND REPLACED PARTS, BUT THEY NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE JAKE BRAKE WAS VERY WEAK. UPDATED 12/07/05 *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128728 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10225316 · 2008-04-21 (April 21, 2008)

2007 VOLVO 780, BOUGHT IN 7-31-2006, WHEN DRIVING FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION GOING INTO GEAR. FROM THAT TIME ON THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. IT BREAKS DOWN FREQUENTLY AND WON'T GO INTO GEAR. WE HAVE BEEN TOWED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAVE LOST REVENUE. IT HAS MELTED WIRES AND COMPONENTS. THE COMPUTER THROWS OUT CODES THAT INDICATES PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTER, ELECTRICAL, TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE, BRAKES, ETC., ETC. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DOWN NUMEROUS TIMES. MOST RECENT, DOWN IN OCTOBER OF…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225316 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 565634 · 2002-05-13 (May 13, 2002)

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING INJECTOR PROBLEM. *YD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10148608 · 2006-01-11 (January 11, 2006)

2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONAL TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT INSIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE DEBRIS STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE FUEL TANK BREAKING THE FUEL LINE. THE TRUCK SPILLED APPROXIMATELY 30 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL INTO A DITCH. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10315491 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO 780VNL SEMI HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. THE ENGINES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT ON AND OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND THE WIRES THAT SHORTEN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WHICH THE ABS SENDING UNIT COMMUNICATES WITH EACH BRAKE SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THEM BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FAILURE MILE…

Owner-reported narrative. 354,946 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10282085 · 2009-08-28 (August 28, 2009)

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 ↗

Owner report 11497751 · 2022-12-16 (December 16, 2022)

Our trucking business name is Fast Way Express LLC and this is a complaint against TEC Equipment Las Vegas (Volvo dealership) in regards to a new Volvo semi truck we purchased on 6/13/2022. After only 10,600 miles and 216 engine hours, all the electrical modules on the truck stopped working. I have pictures of all the warning or error messages on the dashboard. The truck has been in their repair shop since 9/23/2022, for almost 3 months, and they are unable to repair the truck. They are telling us that the parts they don't have are on national …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11497751 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.