Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Volvo HEAVY TRUCK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

350,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 to 2002 model years. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior240.0%

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.

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Structure:Body
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve2
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Structure:Body1
Suspension1
Tires1

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Suspension: 1; Tires: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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.

2002
2
2003
1
2011
1
2014
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20022
20031
20111
20141

2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10049161 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)

1998, VOLVO, COMMERCIAL TRACTOR SERVICE, BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT ON THE FLOOR AND HARD TO REACH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049161 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 565522 · 2002-04-29 (April 29, 2002)

FOOD LION DRIVER STATES THAT BRAKES FREEZE UP IN COLD, AND THE THEY THINK THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FOOT VALVE BEING TOO SMALL TO HANDLE THE AIR OF THE OTHER VALVES. *MJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 565522 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

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

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1988
1
1989
1
1990
1
1991
1
1992
1
1995
0
1998
0
1999
0
2002
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19881
19891
19901
19911
19921
19950
19980
19990
20020

1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1995: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2002: 0

Year-by-year records

Volvo HEAVY TRUCK model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198801Not available
1989010
1990010
1991010
1992010
199510Not available
199810Not available
1999100
200220Not available
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

20.0%Usable mileage1 / 5 records
80.0%Valid incident date4 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
80.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 5 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component198819891990199119921995199819992002
Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10049161

1998, VOLVO, COMMERCIAL TRACTOR SERVICE, BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT ON THE FLOOR AND HARD TO REACH. *AK

Look up ODI 10049161 at NHTSA ↗

1100.0%
ODI 565522

FOOD LION DRIVER STATES THAT BRAKES FREEZE UP IN COLD, AND THE THEY THINK THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FOOT VALVE BEING TOO SMALL TO HANDLE THE AIR OF THE OTHER VALVES. *MJ

Look up ODI 565522 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 10609940 · 350,000 mi

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE …

Look up ODI 10609940 at NHTSA ↗

Structure:Body
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 10609940 · 350,000 mi

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE …

Look up ODI 10609940 at NHTSA ↗

Suspension
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 8008170

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SLC

Look up ODI 8008170 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Tires
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 10388668

2006 VOLVO 245, UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 WERE WEST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 1 WAS OVERTAKING UNIT 2 ON THE LEFT SIDE. UNIT 2 LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND UNIT 1 AND 2 COLLIDED. UNIT 1 STARTED TO JACKKNIFE FORCING BOTH UNITS OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. UNIT 2 DROVE INTO THE DITCH AND OVERTURNED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE. UNIT 1 STRUCK THE DITCH AND SPUN AROUND AND OVERTURNED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0048-91) *JB UPDATED 03/21/11 *BF

Look up ODI 10388668 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Engine And Engine CoolingToo few reports for a range350,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10609940 · 350,000 mi

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE …

Look up ODI 10609940 at NHTSA ↗

Structure:BodyToo few reports for a range350,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10609940 · 350,000 mi

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE …

Look up ODI 10609940 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1999: 0 complaints · 2002: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1999000
2002000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1999010
2002200

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentService Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/ValveEngine And Engine CoolingStructure:BodySuspensionTires
Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control/Valve—0000
Engine And Engine Cooling0—
1
ODI 10609940 · 350,000 mi

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE …

Look up ODI 10609940 at NHTSA ↗

00
Structure:Body0
1
ODI 10609940 · 350,000 mi

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE …

Look up ODI 10609940 at NHTSA ↗

—00
Suspension000—0
Tires0000—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10049161

1998, VOLVO, COMMERCIAL TRACTOR SERVICE, BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT ON THE FLOOR AND HARD TO REACH. *AK

Look up ODI 10049161 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\b