The 2003 Volvo Vhd has 11 recalls and 3 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.
How the 2003 compares
Highest
Fewest complaintsMost complaints
Highest complaint count among 7 Vhd model years — the most of any year.
11recalls
3complaints
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
213,763median miles
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.
Does your car have an open recall? Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Oct 18, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V510000 · 1,496 vehicles
Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2002-2013 VHD and VN trucks, manufactured from August 4, 2000, through June 22, 2012, and equipped with bench passenger seats. The seat belt d-ring weld may not be sufficient enough to meet the seat belt pull test. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Risk: In the event of a crash, an insufficient seat belt weld may prevent the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant. This increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy & notes
Volvo Trucks of America will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspected d-ring, free of change. The safety recall began on May 10, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-336-393-2000.
Volvo's recall campaign number is RVXX1204.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Visibility
May 21, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V173000 · 127,764 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
Risk: If this happens a short circuit May occur, which over time could possibly lead to a vehicle fire.
Original NHTSA wording
IF THIS HAPPENS A SHORT CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR, WHICH OVER TIME COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy & notes
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.
Volvo trucks recall no. Rvxx0902.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Electrical System
Dec 14, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V573000 · 104,845 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
Remedy & notes
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.
Volvo trucks recall no. Rvxx0707.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Wheels
Jun 14, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V213000 · 873 vehicles
Problem: On certain trucks, the wheel spacer May become distorted from heat which potentially could lead to a loss of clamp that May result in loose wheel nuts.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WHEEL SPACER MAY BECOME DISTORTED FROM HEAT WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CLAMP THAT MAY RESULT IN LOOSE WHEEL NUTS.
Risk: If the wheel nuts loosen for any reason, damage to the wheel studs and wheel May occur, and May lead to a complete separation of the wheels from the truck which could result in a vehicle crash.
Original NHTSA wording
IF THE WHEEL NUTS LOOSEN FOR ANY REASON, DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL STUDS AND WHEEL MAY OCCUR, AND MAY LEAD TO A COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE WHEELS FROM THE TRUCK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will replace the wheel spacers and the wheel equipment (wheels,studs, and hub) will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2006. Owners May contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
Volvo trucks recall no. Rvxx0603.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Engine
Jan 26, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V021000 · 33,102 vehicles
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with D12D engines, the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler inlet pipes or the pipes that connect the EGR valves to the cooler May crack or break.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH D12D ENGINES, THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER INLET PIPES OR THE PIPES THAT CONNECT THE EGR VALVES TO THE COOLER MAY CRACK OR BREAK.
Risk: If the pipes or the cooler inlet pipes fail and are left untreated, the air cleaner and inner fender May be subject to hot exhaust gases, which could lead to a fire.
Original NHTSA wording
IF THE PIPES OR THE COOLER INLET PIPES FAIL AND ARE LEFT UNTREATED, THE AIR CLEANER AND INNER FENDER MAY BE SUBJECT TO HOT EXHAUST GASES, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will inspect and repair the EGR cooler pipes as required and install a heat shield free of charge. An interim owner letter was mailed on February 17, 2006, to advise on precautions that the owner can take until parts become available. Owners are being notified starting March 3, 2006, that parts are now available. Owners May contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
Volvo trucks recall no. Rvxx0601.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Problem: 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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
Risk: If this occurs, excessive heat and smoke could result in an under hood fire.
Original NHTSA wording
IF THIS OCCURS, EXCESSIVE HEAT AND SMOKE COULD RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
Remedy & notes
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.
Volvo trucks recall no.RVXX0406.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration?s auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Seats
Aug 12, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V404000 · 126 vehicles
Problem: Certain trucks fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, 'seating systems.' the bench seat, as installed, does not the seat pull requirements of the standard.
Original NHTSA wording
CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, 'SEATING SYSTEMS.' THE BENCH SEAT, AS INSTALLED, DOES NOT THE SEAT PULL REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Risk: The seat anchorage to the floor May not be sufficient to retain the adjusted seating position, which could lead to personal injury or death in the even tof a crash.
Original NHTSA wording
THE SEAT ANCHORAGE TO THE FLOOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO RETAIN THE ADJUSTED SEATING POSITION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVEN TOF A CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will replace the passenger side bench seat with a different brand of seat. The recall began November 1, 2004. Owners should contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
Volvo truck recall no. Rvxx0405.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Steering
Feb 13, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V078000 · 92 vehicles
Problem: On certain heavy-duty class 8 trucks, the pinch bolt attaching the steering drag link to the pitman arm May not have been sufficiently tightened.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE PINCH BOLT ATTACHING THE STEERING DRAG LINK TO THE PITMAN ARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.
Risk: The bolt could loosen allowing the drag link and pitman arm to separate, resulting in uncontrollable steering which could result in a crash.
Original NHTSA wording
THE BOLT COULD LOOSEN ALLOWING THE DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM TO SEPARATE, RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will install a new pinch bolt and tighten to the required torque. Owner notification is expected to begin during March 2004. 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.
Volvo truck recall no. Rvxx0401.customer's can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Engine
Feb 13, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V077000 · 2,112 vehicles
Problem: On certain heavy-duty class 8 trucks, the assembled engine pre-heater jumper wiring harness was incorrectly assembled.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE ASSEMBLED ENGINE PRE-HEATER JUMPER WIRING HARNESS WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
Risk: The engine pre-heater could overheat resulting in damage to the pre-heater and other engine heat sensitive components near the pre-heater and the ability to re-start the engine could be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.
Original NHTSA wording
THE ENGINE PRE-HEATER COULD OVERHEAT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE PRE-HEATER AND OTHER ENGINE HEAT SENSITIVE COMPONENTS NEAR THE PRE-HEATER AND THE ABILITY TO RE-START THE ENGINE COULD BE COMPROMISED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will repair the affected circuits in the jumper wiring harness connector. Owner notification is expected to begin during March 2004. 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.
Volvo truck recall no. Rvxx0402.customer's can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Trailer Hitches
May 30, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V204000 · 1,275 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Original NHTSA wording
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.
Risk: 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.
Original NHTSA wording
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 & notes
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 recall@jostinternational.com or Volvo truck at 800-528-6586.
Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Seat Belts
Mar 20, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V108000 · 396 vehicles
Problem: 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 .
Original NHTSA wording
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 .
Risk: These trucks do not comply with the requirements.
Original NHTSA wording
THESE TRUCKS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy & notes
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.
Volvo truck recall no. Rvxx0303.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.
Complaints by year filed
NHTSA investigations
INOPERABLE TAIL LIGHTS
PE06054 · opened Nov 16, 2006 · closed Feb 7, 2007
Summary
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND EWR DATA. EWR WARRANTY DATA IS AGGREGATE DATA AND INDIVIDUAL REPORTS ARE NOT SUBMITTED.VOLVO REVIEWED THEIR WARRANTY DATA AND DETERMINED THAT ONLY 63 OF THE EWR WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DISPLAYED SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH THE TSB.VOLVO ALSO NOTED IN THEIR IR RESPONSE THAT THE TAIL LIGHT CONFIGURATION IS USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON TRACTORS THAT ARE NORMALLY ATTACHED TO SEMI TRAILERS.THEREFORE, THE TRACTOR LIGHTS ARE NORMALLY NOT THE REAR MOST LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE.IN A NORMAL APPLICATION, EVEN IF ONE TAIL LIGHT ON THE TRACTOR WAS OUT, THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE TRAILER WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE AND PROVIDE OTHER DRIVERS OF THE INTENTIONS OF THE SEMI TRAILER DRIVER.PURSUANT TO 49 CFR 396.11 & 13, A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM A PRE-TRIP AND POST-TRIP INSPECTION, WHICH INCLUDES CHECKING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE TAIL LIGHTS.GIVEN THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
FRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS LOOSEN OR BREAK
EA02021 · opened Sep 6, 2002 · closed Nov 6, 2003
Summary
ODI'SINVESTIGATION DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT LOOSE OR BROKENFRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO ANY CRASHES OR NEAR MISS EVENTS.SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSISREPORT FOR FULL TECHNICAL DETAILS.* 1996/1997 BUILT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNATED BY VOLVO AS 1998 MODEL YEAR.
2003 vs. other Volvo Vhd years
Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.
Questions
Does the 2003 Volvo Vhd have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Volvo Vhd, the latest from Oct 18, 2012 (seat belts). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Volvo Vhd?
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (2), engine (2), service brakes (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.
Recalls by Model