1998 Volvo WG

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › wiring. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Wiring1
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights › Switch02V238000
Filed Sep 9, 20025,532 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. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock00V232003
Filed Aug 22, 200018,362 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

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.

Suspension › Front › Springs › Air Suspension › Lines and Fittings98V255000
Filed Oct 14, 199895,013 vehiclesVolvo Trucks North America Inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL VALVE SUPPLY LINE WAS NOT PLUMBED THROUGH AN AIR PRESSURE PROTECTION VALVE. IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE, THERE WOULD BE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE 'B' SYSTEM AIR RESERVOIR THAT SUPPLIES AIR PRESSURE FOR THE FRONT STEER AXLE BRAKES.

Risk. THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NECESSARY AIR PRESSURE PROTECTION VALVE.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jul 28, 200464,000 milesIN

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES LOCKED UP, KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION, AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS DOWN. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Sep 2, 2003IL

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE WHOLE WIRING HARNNESS FOR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY ONLY GAVE THE RUN AROUND.ALSO, DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO HELP CONSUMER, BUT HAS NOT AS OF YETHEARD FROM HIM.*AK

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20020100Routine
20010100Routine
20002500Routine
19993800Routine
1998 — this page2600Routine
19970800Routine
19960600Routine
19950600Routine
19940400Routine
19930200Routine
19920200Routine
19910200Routine
19900200Routine

Compare every WG 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: Sep 9, 2002. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.