RoadVitals

2002 Volvo Heavy Truck

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jul 11, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Volvo Heavy Truck, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and tires & wheels categories. 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 37 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Engine133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE02095ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY

Opened Dec 11, 2002
Closed May 30, 2003

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.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUBLed to recall 03V199000
EA02021ClosedEngineering Analysis

FRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS LOOSEN OR BREAK

Opened Sep 6, 2002
Closed Nov 6, 2003

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.

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structureEngine
Filed Jul 11, 2014

METAL STRAP HOLDING UP AIR TANK RESERVOIR IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING, BROKE ON MY TRUCK FEW YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, IS BREAKING UP ON ALL MY TRUCKS WITH ABOVE DESIGN. MYSELF GETTING TIRED WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND PART, I HAVE REPLACED METAL STRAP WITH A TIE DOWN RATCHET RATED 5000LBS. NOW I'M GETTING TICKETS FROM DOT FOR DOING SO AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM THE RIGHT WAY. MENTION ABOVE VOLVO PART NUMBER IS 8073380. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE INVOLVING ALL VOLVO TRUCKS 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 IF NOT MORE. LOSING AIR TANKS WHILE TRAVELING 65 MH ON THE HWY AND BEING 80000 LBS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL BEING ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609940
Incident
Jul 9, 2014
Mileage
350,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 7, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

2006 VOLVO 245, UNIT 1 AND UNIT 2 WERE WEST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 1 WAS OVERTAKING UNIT 2 ON THE LEFT SIDE. UNIT 2 LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND UNIT 1 AND 2 COLLIDED. UNIT 1 STARTED TO JACKKNIFE FORCING BOTH UNITS OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. UNIT 2 DROVE INTO THE DITCH AND OVERTURNED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE. UNIT 1 STRUCK THE DITCH AND SPUN AROUND AND OVERTURNED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0048-91) *JB UPDATED 03/21/11 *BF

NHTSA ID
10388668
Incident
Jan 20, 2011

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

CBR-2201

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information – August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions

KC-405

POWER TRAIN

Warranty Automated Manual Transmission ( AMT, I-Shift, mDrive ) Control Housing Assembly; Guidelines For Filing A Claim For Chassis Return Visit With Transmission Issues After A Repair Requiring Control Housing Removal And Reinstallation - US07 And Newer

KC-2119

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

DTC U012100 - Lost Communication With Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Control Module, No Additional Information

KC-2143

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

(Back Office) - Cruise Control Inoperative After Updating Software VECU5 Without ESP Package (UESP)

KC-2112

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN

Programming Failure - Chassis With Cummins Engine And An Allison Transmission

KC-2028

POWER TRAIN

AMT Control Housing Bench Testing - False Failures

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo Heavy Truck by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002Viewing202—
2001001—
2000002—
1999102—
1998101—
1997001—
1996002—
1995102—
1994001—
1993001—
1992011—
1991011—
1990011—
1989011—
1988010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.