2001 Volvo VHD: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE TRUCK IS STEERED TO THE LEFT THE DRIVER LOSES CONTROL THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURED. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008029 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-03-20 (March 20, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY, AXLE BACK MODEL VEHICLES. THE DESIGN OF THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT BOOT COULD ALLOW THE BOOT TO GET ENTANGLED IN THE UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR STEERING LOCK-UP.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO REMOVE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT BOOT PER INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER CHOOSES, A VOLVO TRUCK DEALER CAN PERFORM THE REMEDY FOR THEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2001. 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: 2001-08-21 (August 21, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH A STEERABLE AUXILIARY AXLE AND EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN MERITOR-WABCO BRAKE SYSTEM TWO AND FOUR PORT RELAY VALVES. THE VALVE MAY STICK OPEN WHEN A HIGH-PRESSURE APPLICATION IS RELEASED.

Consequence: WHEN THE VALVE STICKS OPEN, IT CAN RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF AIR FROM EITHER THE SERVICE OR THE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DRIVER MAY LOSE BRAKING ABILITY UNDER A SERVICE APPLICATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE VALVES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2001. 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 OR MERITOR WABCO AT 800-535-5560.

Reported: 2001-07-06 (July 6, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS. THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT MAY SIDE-LOAD THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN NON-UNIFORM STEERING WHEEL EFFORTS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL TURN IS INITIATED, THE VEHICLE MAY CONTINUE TURNING WITHOUT RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION WITH DRIVER EFFORT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2001. 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: 2002-02-11 (February 11, 2002)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PNEUMATIC ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) VALVE PACKAGES, THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THESE VALVE PACKAGES WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: BOLTS TORQUED BELOW SPECIFICATION WILL NOT RELIABLY PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE AT THE AFFECTED ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS ONCE THE COMPONENT BEGINS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. IF AIR LEAKS DEVELOP AT ANY OF THE ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS, BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE REDUCTIONS COULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING OR NORMAL OPERATION WITH UNITS EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION, POTENTIALLY EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 27, 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: 2002-02-05 (February 5, 2002)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE FORWARD AND/OR REAR DRIVE AXLE UPPER AXLE SEAT CAN BREAK ALLOWING THE AXLE TO SHIFT OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF AXLE STABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER AXLE SEAT FOR A CERTAIN DATE CODE THAT IS STAMPED ON THE PART, AND THOSE AXLES WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 15, 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: 2002-06-13 (June 13, 2002)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 AXLE BACK VEHICLES, THE TELESCOPING STEERING SHAFT IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS COULD BOTTOM OUT AND SIDE LOAD THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT WHENEVER THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN IS ADJUSTED TO THE LOWER POSITION.

Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS CONDITION COULD DAMAGE THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RE-DESIGNED STEERING SHAFT, WHICH WILL NOT BOTTOM OUT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN IS POSITIONED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 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: 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL TWO-MAN PASSENGER BENCH SEAT FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." ON THE TWO-MAN PASSENGER BENCH SEAT INBOARD (CENTER) POSITION, SEAT BELT D-RING MOUNTING BRACKET WELDNUT, THE WELD IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE SEAT BELT PULL REQUIREMENTS .

Consequence: THESE TRUCKS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT D-RING MOUNTING BRACKET. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 2003. 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: 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.

Consequence: IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. 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 JOST INTERNATIONAL AT 616-846-7700 OR BY EMAIL TO [email protected] OR VOLVO TRUCK AT 800-528-6586.

Reported: 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VALEO WIPER SYSTEMS, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIVE TO SALT INTRUSION THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE THE CONNECTOR OVERHEATS TO A POINT WHERE THE CONNECTOR COULD IGNITE.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, EXCESSIVE HEAT AND SMOKE COULD RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE CONNECTOR PLATE ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. PHASE 2 OF THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD 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.