2002 Volvo Vnl recalls and problems

The 2002 Volvo Vnl has 7 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.

How the 2002 compares

Lowest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Lowest complaint count among 20 Vnl model years — 19th most.

7recalls

1complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

159,000median 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.

Check your VIN →

7 recalls

Steering

Jun 24, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V282000 · 63,788 vehicles

Problem: Volvo trucks is recalling certain model year 2001-2006 vnl and vnm trucks manufactured with a trw sealed drag links. Certain factors can exist, which if left untreated May result in a ball socket separation.

Original NHTSA wording

VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2006 VNL AND VNM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED WITH A TRW SEALED DRAG LINKS. CERTAIN FACTORS CAN EXIST, WHICH IF LEFT UNTREATED MAY RESULT IN A BALL SOCKET SEPARATION.

Risk: Ball socket separation at the drag link results in complete loss of steering, and therefore can result in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

BALL SOCKET SEPARATION AT THE DRAG LINK RESULTS IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, AND THEREFORE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and repair the ball socket or the drag link as required if necessary. As parts are limited, Volvo trucks mailed an interim owner letter on September 2, 2010. The safety recall began on February 14, 2011. Owners May contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.

Volvo recall no. Rvxx1003.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> .

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> .

Equipment

Dec 10, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V516000 · 6,939 vehicles

Problem: On certain heavy-duty trucks, when the bunk is raised into the stored position, an object left on the bunk May inadvertently turn on a bunk lamp.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS, WHEN THE BUNK IS RAISED INTO THE STORED POSITION, AN OBJECT LEFT ON THE BUNK MAY INADVERTENTLY TURN ON A BUNK LAMP.

Risk: This could possibly result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a bunk lamp with a push button on/off switch. Owner notification began on December 24, 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 truck at 1-800-528-6586.

Volvo recall no. Rvxx0308.customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Electrical System

Jul 22, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V260000 · 422 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks, the wiring harness connected to the chassis mounted electrical inverter May allow water to enter the inverter and cause an electrical short in the inverter.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS MOUNTED ELECTRICAL INVERTER MAY ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE INVERTER AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE INVERTER.

Risk: This could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these vehicles. Owner notification is expected to begin during August 2003. Owners should contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.

Volvo recall no. Rvxx0305.customers 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).

Suspension

May 28, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V199000 · 433 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's FF98X series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Risk: Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.

Original NHTSA wording

SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace all front axle hubs. An interim notice to owners was mailed on June 25, 2003. Final owner notification began on October 6, 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 at 1-800-528-6586.

Volvo recall no. Rvxx0304.customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Exterior Lighting

Sep 9, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V238000 · 5,532 vehicles

Problem: Certain heavy duty class 8 trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the two tail lamps, back-up lamp,and license tag lamp were mounted on insufficiently rigid mounts.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TWO TAIL LAMPS, BACK-UP LAMP,AND LICENSE TAG LAMP WERE MOUNTED ON INSUFFICIENTLY RIGID MOUNTS.

Risk: It May not allow the driver of a rearward approaching vehicle to have full view of the lamps.

Original NHTSA wording

IT MAY NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER OF A REARWARD APPROACHING VEHICLE TO HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE LAMPS.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will attach the two tail lamps, back-up lamp, and the license tap lamp on stiffer brackets. Owner notification began October 31, 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.

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.

What owners complain about

Service Brakes1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

NHTSA investigations

Volvo Sleeper glass de-bonding

RQ11001 · opened May 23, 2011 · closed Jan 20, 2012

Summary

ODI opened Recall Query RQ11-001 after a review of EWR Field Reports identified lower bunk window separations on the subject vehicles.Volvo had issued three recalls for sleeper window separations since 2003.Additionally, Volvo had issued two bulletins for sleeper window issues during the same time period.The frequency of related actions led ODI to open this formal investigation.An Information Request (IR) letter was sent to Volvo on 23 June 2011.Volvo responded on 17 August 2011 and then provided updated warranty information on 9 January 2012.Volvo provided production change data and warranty information which was correlated to vehicle build month and failure date.ODI analyzed the data to determine if additional production time frames should have been included in previous recalls.ODI also requested information from its network of fleet owners.The response from this network reaffirmed the accuracy of the updated warranty information.Based on the information and data received, ODI has concluded that all production periods have been appropriately addressed by Volvo's previous recalls and no additional recall action is required at this time.

Drag Link Failure

EA09003 · opened Jan 15, 2009 · closed Jul 6, 2010 · led to recall 10V282000

Summary

EA09-003 is closed with the submission of Volvo's recall 10V-282 recalling approximately 111,034 Model Year (MY) 1998 through 2005 VN and VNL class 8 trucks.Volvo announced recall 10V-282 in response to NHTSA's recall request letter dated June 3, 2010 (available at NHTSA's web site www.safercar.gov). NHTSA found that these vehicles were designed and manufactured with a TRW ball joint that does not meet the combined performance requirements and foreseeable inspection practices of the U.S. market.The ball joint in the steering system that connects the driver's side steering arm/knuckle to the drag link can fail resulting in a total loss of steering on the vehicle.Volvo changed the size and supplier of the ball joint used on these vehicles starting with the 2006 MY vehicles.The failure rates on the vehicles manufactured with the larger ball joint are significantly less than the subject vehicles.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by ODI that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in Volvo's recall.ODI will continue to monitor the incidence of drag link failures in other MY Volvo trucks.Note:The recall request letter dated June 3, 2010 associated with this investigation describes 49 incidents of ball joint separation.After a comprehensive review of the data it was discovered that the number of separations that NHTSA was aware of was 41 with a failure rate of 36.9 R/100K.The 41 separations resulted in 23 crash allegations.

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

PE02095 · opened Dec 11, 2002 · closed May 30, 2003 · led to recall 03V199000

Summary

THE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER ARE: SKF (HUB MFR), ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR), AND VOLVO (MANUFACTURER OF CLASS VIII TRACTOR/TRUCKS).SKF IDENTIFIED MANUFACTURING DEFECTS FOR SPECIFIC BUILD DATES ON FRONT AXLE HUB AND BEARINGS (WHEEL BEARINGS) SUPPLIED TO ARVINMERITOR.AS A RESULT, ARVINMERITOR NOTIFIED VOLVO OF AXLES SUPPLIED WITH POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES.AS A RESULT OF THAT NOTIFICATION, 433 TRUCKS ARE BEING RECALLED BY VOLVO FOR DEFECTIVE FRONT AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH MAY FAIL IN SUCH A WAY THAT A WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL BEARING FIRE OCCURS.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

2002 vs. other Volvo Vnl years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Volvo Vnl have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Volvo Vnl, the latest from Jun 24, 2010 (steering). 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 2002 Volvo Vnl?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.