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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2002

Volvo Truck recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 55 owner complaints for the Volvo Truck, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The 1998 model year drew the most complaints (13), and Suspension is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Volvo Truck VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 5 recall campaigns on file
  • 55 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 8 model years with data (1995–2002)
  • most complaints: 1998 (13 for that model year)
  • top component: Suspension (25 complaints)
  • latest recall 02V110000 (reported Apr 11, 2002)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 2 complaints reporting a fire (3.6%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Volvo Truck complaints by model year

8 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1998 model year has the most complaints: 13 of 55, or 23.6%. Next come 1999 (12) and 1995 (10). The fewest are for 2002, with 2 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Volvo Truck owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–2002Column chart of 55 complaints across 8 model years. The highest is 1998 with 13. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 10 complaints1019951996: 5 complaints519961997: 3 complaints319971998: 13 complaints1319981999: 12 complaints1219992000: 7 complaints720002001: 3 complaints320012002: 2 complaints22002
Volvo Truck complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Volvo Truck complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
1995100000
199650000
199730000
1998130000
1999120000
200070100
200130000
200220100
All model years550200

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Volvo Truck components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Suspension is the component named most often, in 25 complaints (45.5% of all 55), followed by Electrical System (9) and Engine and Engine Cooling (6).

Components named most often in Volvo Truck complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Volvo Truck complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Suspension2545.5%
Electrical System916.4%
Engine and Engine Cooling610.9%
Power Train610.9%
Service Brakes, Air610.9%
Steering59.1%
Unknown or Other47.3%
Visibility47.3%
Tires35.5%
Latches/Locks/Linkages23.6%
Equipment11.8%
Exterior Lighting11.8%
Fuel System, Gasoline11.8%
Parking Brake11.8%
Seats11.8%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Volvo Truck recalls

5 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Truck, newest first. The 5 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2001. The 1996, 1997 and 1998 model years appear in the most campaigns (3 each).

  • 5 recall campaigns
Volvo Truck recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
1995: 1 campaign1996: 3 campaigns1997: 3 campaigns1998: 3 campaigns1999: 1 campaign
2000: 2 campaigns2001: 1 campaign
Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 02V110000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Air › Antilock

    Model years 1997–2001

    Certain heavy duty class 8 vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, "air brake systems", S5.1.6.3, "antilock power for towed vehicles." Electrical power for the trailer anti-lock braking system (ABS) can be disrupted when a switch located on the vehicle instrument panel is activated to control lighting within the trailer.

    Consequence:
    If this condition occurs, the driver can lose of the towed vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install a wiring harness which will provide continuous electrical power to the trailer ABS whenever the ignition switch is in the on or run position. Owner notification began April 29, 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.

    Filed by Volvo Trucks North America

  2. NHTSA campaign 00V131003

    Reported

    Power Train › Automatic Transmission

    Model year 2000

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with eaton autoshift gen ii transmission assemblies. Due to a software problem in the transmission assemblies, the transmission will select the wrong gear.

    Consequence:
    If an inappropriate gear is selected without the driver's knowledge, the vehicle will react differently than expected, possibly resulting in injury or crash.
    Remedy:
    Eaton is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this recall. Dealers will replace the autoshift transmissions.

    Filed by Volvo Trucks North America

  3. NHTSA campaign 99V187001

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel

    Model years 1996–1998

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar 3116 mechanically unit injected diesel engines. The governor of the engine controls the unit injector fueling by way of a control assembly. In this assembly, a link to the governor is joined to the control rod using a rivet. This rivet can loosen and then wear resulting in engine speed instability.

    Consequence:
    If not identified and corrected, engine speed control could be lost due to rivet disengagement.
    Remedy:
    Caterpillar is conducting the notification and remedy for this recall. Dealers will inspect the control assembly and replaced if necessary.

    Filed by Volvo Trucks North America

  4. NHTSA campaign 99V078000

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan

    Model years 1995–1998

    Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks assembled by either Volvo GM heavy truck corporation or Volvo trucks North America, inc., and with a 2,100 RPM detroit series 60 engine, and a 32 inch, 8 blade kysor engine cooling fan. The blades may separate from the engine cooling fan assembly during fan operation and full engine RPM.

    Consequence:
    This condition poses a hazard to anyone working or standing in the area of the engine cooling fan without warning when the hood is open.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the factory installed engine cooling fan.

    Filed by Volvo Trucks North America

  5. NHTSA campaign 96V124001

    Reported

    Suspension

    Model year 1996

    The equalizing beam shaft of the tandem axle suspension were manufactured from as-rolled SAE4140 steel rather than the specified annealed SAE4140. These shafts can fracture inside the beam at the toe of the weld.

    Consequence:
    Vehicles are subject to vehicle tilt and possible rollover in the event that both equalizing beams, on the same side of the vehicle, experience a simultaneous shaft failure. Affected suspensions can also drop and contact the road surface generating sparks which could ignite flammable material.
    Remedy:
    Owner notification is being conducted by neway anchorlok. Dealers will inspect and replace all suspension beams with suspension beams containing appropriate shafts.

    Filed by Volvo Trucks North America

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Volvo Truck questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Volvo Truck have?

NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recall campaigns for the Volvo Truck, covering model years 1995 to 2002. The most recent, 02V110000, was reported on April 11, 2002 and is filed under “Service brakes, air”. The 1996, 1997 and 1998 model years are covered by the most campaigns (3 each).

Which Volvo Truck model year has the most complaints?

The 1998 model year, with 13 of the 55 complaints in NHTSA’s file (23.6%). The next are 1999 (12) and 1995 (10). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Volvo Truck complaint?

Suspension is the component named most often: 25 complaints, or 45.5% of all 55. Electrical System (9) and Engine and Engine Cooling (6) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Volvo Truck?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Volvo dealer.

How many Volvo Truck complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 55 complaints, 0 report a crash, 2 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Volvo models

8 models · most complaints first

The Volvo models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Volvo VIN decoder with every Volvo model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Volvo XC90 2003–2025 · 35 recalls · 1,521 complaints
  • Volvo S60 2000–2025 · 40 recalls · 1,264 complaints
  • Volvo S80 1999–2016 · 27 recalls · 954 complaints
  • Volvo V70 1996–2016 · 22 recalls · 933 complaints
  • Volvo XC60 2009–2025 · 36 recalls · 647 complaints
  • Volvo S70 1995–2002 · 6 recalls · 593 complaints
  • Volvo S40 2000–2011 · 12 recalls · 491 complaints
  • Volvo XC70 2001–2016 · 19 recalls · 417 complaints

All Volvo models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.