2003 Volvo VN

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › front › hub. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
100
Suspension › Front › Hub1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts12V510000
Filed Oct 18, 20121,496 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America

Defect. 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. 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.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor04V457000
Filed Sep 17, 200456,154 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Trailer Hitches › Fifth Wheel Assembly04V315000
Filed Jul 2, 20041,374 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America, Inc.

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A MALFUNCTION IN THE SOLENOID VALVE MAY ALLOW AIR TO BE RELEASED TO FIFTH WHEEL LATCH WHEN THE PARK BRAKE IS ENGAGED.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE FIFTH WHEEL LATCH TO RELEASE INADVERTENTLY WHEN THE PARK BRAKE IS ENGAGED, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF THE TRAILER. A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL SOLENOID VALVE IN SERIES WITH THE EXISTING PNEUMATIC CIRCUIT FOR THE FIFTH WHEEL AIR RELEASE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-528-6586.

Engine and Engine Cooling04V077000
Filed Feb 13, 20042,112 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Sep 1, 2010IN

2003 VOLVO 660, UNIT 1 STRUCK THE REAR OF UNIT 2. UNIT 1 THEN WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING TO CLOSELY BEHIND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM. (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0467-90) *JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Apr 17, 2005OH

HOOD SHOCKS ON VOLVO TRUCKS ARE COMING OFF AT HOOD CONECTION SIDE. WHEN PULLING HOOD OPEN IF BOTH SHOCKS ARE LOSE HOOD CAN COME OVER ON DRIVER, CAUSING DRIVER POSSIBLE INJURIES. *AK

Suspension › Front › Hub
Filed Mar 6, 2005247,000 milesTX

THE BEARINGS IN THE INTEGRAL HUB/BEARING ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (STEERING AXLE) FAILED AT 247,000 MILES. THIS IS A UNIT DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE POSSIBLE. THIS WAS A VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR SUCH A FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS NOTICED BEFORE THAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT SUCH A FAILURE COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. WE PAID APPROXIMATELY $625 FOR PARTS, LABOR, AND SHIPPING FOR A NEW PART. THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED AN IDENTICAL HUB FROM A NEW TRUCK ON THE LOT AND REPLACED OUR HUB. I DOUBT THEY KEPT THE OLD HUB, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT HAVE. THIS WAS AT THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN VINTON, TX, I-10 EXIT 2 IN TEXAS.*AK

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

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
2003 — this page3400Routine
20020500Routine
20011200Routine
20005200Routine
19999520Routine
19989610Routine
19970900Routine
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: Oct 18, 2012. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.