Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 VAH, VHD, VNL, VNM, and VT models. The affected vehicles were built without a redundant clutch disengagement switch. Without a redundant switch, a loss of signal from the brake air pressure switch can prevent the clutch from automatically disengaging when the brake is applied.
Safety risk
Without a signal to disengage the clutch when the brakes are applied, the distance required to stop the truck may lengthen, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Volvo Trucks will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles if necessary. The recall began on August 26, 2013. Volvo's recall number is RVXX1303. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-336-393-2000.
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.
Safety risk
IF THIS HAPPENS A SHORT CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR, WHICH OVER TIME COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Manufacturer 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.
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Manufacturer
VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA
Vehicles affected
104,845
Reported to NHTSA
2007-12-14
Owners notified
2008-02-25
Defect description
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.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer 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.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A SAF HOLLAND SIMPLEX FIFTH WHEEL, THE LEVER ARM PIVOT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN OVER TIGHTENED. AN OVER TIGHTENED PIVOT BOLT CAN DISTORT THE PIVOT BOLT SPACER SLEEVE, WHICH MAY PREVENT THE FIFTH WHEEL LATCH JAW FROM CLOSING AND LATCHING SECURELY AROUND THE TRAILER KING PIN.
Safety risk
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PIVOT BOLT CAN BECOME LOOSE WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER COULD DRIVE AWAY AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DISENGAGED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PIVOT BOLT AND SLEEVE WITH A HEX HEAD SHOULDER BOLT AND WASHER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, AN UNPROTECTED LEAD IN THE THERMOSWITCH OF THE HEATER MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER POST POSSIBLY CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN RESULT IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF THE HEATING ELEMENT.
Safety risk
IF THE CONDITION EXISTS AND THE KEY IS LEFT ON WITHOUT FUEL IN THE FILTER, THE HEATING ELEMENT MAY HEAT TO A POINT WHERE A FLAME BECOMES PRESENT AT THE TIP OF THE ELEMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THERMOSWITCH AND WILL REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE NUT USED TO RETAIN THE STEERING SHAFT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A LOCK NUT THAT HAS THE LOCKING FEATURE. A LOCK NUT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE NUT DOES NOT COME LOOSE.
Safety risk
IF THE NUT WERE TO COME LOOSE, THE STEERING SHAFT COULD POTENTIALLY SEPARATE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLTS AND LOCKNUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE AXLE HOUSINGS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH STEEL THAT WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FATIGUE FAILURE OVER TIME.
Safety risk
IF A FATIGUE FAILURE OCCURS AND IS LEFT UNATTENDED, THE AXLE MAY LOCK UP OR THE END OF THE AXLE COULD COME OFF, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND INSPECT THE AXLES AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR RPL20 HIGH ANGLE INTERAXLE DRIVESHAFTS, AN IMPROPER SEATED OR MISSING SNAP RING CAN RESULT IN THE BEARING CUP TO SEPARATE FROM THE SLIP YOKE SUB-ASSEMBLY. THE UNIVERSAL JOINT CROSS COULD THEN CONTACT THE SLIP YOKE CASTING AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE EAR WORK TO FRACTURE.
Safety risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE DRIVELINE, THE VEHICLE TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED AND AY ADDITIONAL NEARBY OBJECTS.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFTS AND REPLACE THEM AS NEEDED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Air bags
2
450,000 mi
Electrical system
1
530,689 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
1
—
Service brakes, air
1
530,689 mi
Trailer hitches
1
530,689 mi
The 2006 model has 6 times as many complaints as this one. The 2008 model has 6 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.