1997 Volvo VN

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 9 times.

9 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Other › Labels02V310000
Filed Nov 15, 200291 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL WHICH CONTAINS FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) INFORMATION DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE ACTUAL FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT.

Risk. WHEN OPERATING BOBTAIL WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND TWO OCCUPANTS WITH AN ALLOWANCE FOR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, THE ACTUAL GROSS AXLE WEIGHT MAY EXCEED THE STATED RATING FOUND ON THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT STEER AXLE TIRES AND NEW CERTIFICATION LABEL STATING THE NEW FRONT STEER AXLE WEIGHT RATING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 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.

Equipment › Other › Labels01V093000
Filed Mar 22, 20011,577 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL WHICH CONTAINS FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS," DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE ACTUAL FRONT GROSS AXLE WEIGHT.

Risk. WHEN OPERATING THE TRUCK "BOBTAIL" WITH FULL FUEL TANKS AND TWO OCCUPANTS WITH AN ALLOWANCE FOR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, THE ACTUAL GROSS AXLE WEIGHT MAY EXCEED THE STATED RATING FOUND ON THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Remedy. THE WEIGHT CERTIFICATION LABEL WILL BE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING MEANS: (1) REPLACEMENT OF THE LABEL WITH ONE WHICH CONTAINS CORRECT INFORMATION; OR (2) REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AXLE TIRES, RIMS OR TIE ROD TUBE OR A COMBINATION THEREOF; OR (3) REPLACEMENT OR RELOCATION OF THE FUEL TANKS. DUE TO THE VARIOUS TRUCK CONFIGURATIONS, SEVERAL OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS ARE BEING SENT FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. THE FIRST OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS MAILED APRIL 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY OR LABEL WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

Parking Brake00V002002
Filed Feb 24, 200013,516 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH HALDEX MANIFOLD DASH VALVES (MDV) USED IN TRACTOR AND TRAILER PARKING BRAKES. THESE VALVES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." A LOSS OF THE ISOLATION OF THE TWO BRAKE SYSTEM CIRCUITS CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES WHEN THERE IS ANOTHER FAILURE OF ONE OF THE TWO BRAKE CIRCUITS.

Risk. THE LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT VALVES.

Steering › Linkages98V297000
Filed Nov 17, 199825 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A FAL 8.0 FRONT STEER AXLE. THE UPPER STEERING ARM CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER STEERING ARM AND REPLACE IT, IF REQUIRED.

Wheels › Rim98V120001
Filed May 19, 19983,065 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET ALUMINUM DUAL WHEELS, 22.5X8.25, ONE-PIECE, TUBELESS, SUPPLIED BY ACCURIDE/AKW. CERTAIN DESIGN REVISIONS COMBINED WITH PROCESS CONDITIONS CAUSED FATIGUE CRACKS IN THESE WHEELS.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THESE WHEELS.

Remedy. ACCURIDE/AKW WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch98V092000
Filed May 4, 19982,329 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) AND HEADLIGHTS CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE DRL AND HEADLIGHT FUNCTIONS.

Risk. IF THESE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL CONTROL MODULE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip97V127000
Filed Aug 18, 1997278 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. A WIRE THAT CONNECTS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU) TO THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING CONTROL SYSTEM (ABS) CONTROLLER IS MISSING. THE ENGINE BRAKE CAN LOCK UP THE REAR AXLE WHEELS ON A SLICK PAVEMENT, AND THE ABS WOULD NOT PREVENT THE LOCK UP.

Risk. IF THE WHEELS LOCKED UP, THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING WIRING CIRCUIT ON THE ABS BRAKES.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor97V121000
Filed Aug 4, 19973,272 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE RELAY THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CAN FAIL.

Risk. IF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY IN WET WEATHER WILL BE REDUCED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT RELAYS.

Power Train › Manual Transmission › Column Shift Assembly97V033000
Filed Mar 3, 19971,035 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LEVER CAN BREAK OFF AT THE TRANSMISSION.

Risk. IF THE SHIFT LEVER FAILS, THE TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE SHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE CAN BECOME A HAZARD OR OBSTRUCTION TO OTHER DRIVERS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LEVERS WITH NEW CONTROL LEVERS.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270100Do not drive
20260300Do not drive
20250800Do not drive
20241700Routine
20230900Routine
20220600Routine
20213200Routine
20205200Routine
20190100Routine
20182000Routine
20160200Routine
20150100Routine
20142110Routine
20131200Routine
20122200Routine
20110200Routine
20100400Routine
20090400Routine
20082200Routine
20073300Routine
20062410Routine
20052200Routine
20041400Routine
20033400Routine
20020500Routine
20011200Routine
20005200Routine
19999520Routine
19989610Routine
1997 — this page0900Routine
19962100Routine

Compare every VN year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 15, 2002. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.