RoadVitals

1998 Volvo VN610

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.
59
Latest Aug 14, 2007
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.
6
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.
2
3 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 59 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Volvo VN610, most frequently naming the suspension, steering and engine categories. 6 NHTSA investigations name it; and 27 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

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.

EA04016ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING BINDING

Opened Jun 24, 2004
Closed Mar 31, 2005

ODI'S INVESTIGATIONCONCLUDED THAT THE LEGS THAT RETAIN THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), PART NUMBER 1607363, TO THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED IN MODEL YEAR 1998 - 1999 VN AND VHD SERIES VTNA (VOLVO TRUCK NORTH AMERICA) VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING.WHEN THE RETENTION LEGS BREAK, THE SEPARATED PIECES OF THE TSCR TYPICALLYREPOSE IN THE HOST CAVITY IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB WHERE THEY WERE DEPOSITED.ODIFOUND THAT BROKEN PIECES OF THE TSCR EITHER (1) MIGRATED FROM THEIR HOST CAVITY AND DROPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR (2) LODGED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL PROXIMATE TO THE TSCR.ODI SIMULATED VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND POSITIONS THAT A SEPARATED PIECE OF THE TSCR MIGHT BECOME LODGED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BUT NONE OF THESE SIMULATIONS GENERATED ANY APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.

STEERING:COLUMN
PE04014ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING BINDING

Opened Feb 5, 2004
Closed Jun 24, 2004

ODI'S PRELIMINARY EVALUATION FOCUSED ON THE POTENTIAL FOR A BROKEN, BENT, DEFORMED, FRAGMENTED OR DISPLACED TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), VTNA PART NUMBER 1607363, TO RESTRICT THEVEHICLE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.THE PE IDENTIFIED THIRTEEN VTNA WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT ALLEGE THAT THE TSCR HAD FAILED AND THAT THE VEHICLE STEERING EFFORT HAD BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED.TO DATE, ODI HAS NOT FOUND ANY SAMPLES OF A FAILED TSCR AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY ESTABLISH WHETHER A FAILED TSCR CAN OR CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.ODI BELIEVES THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO CONDUCT FURTHER INVESTIGATION(EA LEVEL) TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TSCR FAILURES AND TO ASSESS THE EFFECT, IF ANY, THAT THESE TYPES OF FAILURES COULD HAVE ON VEHICLE STEERING EFFORT.

STEERING
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
PE01040ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SLEEPER BERTH FIRES

Opened Dec 3, 2001
Closed Mar 26, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 59
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 14, 2007
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO VN610. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DRAG LINK FELL APART. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 430,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 428,000. UPDATED 10/16/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10199493
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
Mileage
428,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 25, 2003
Crash reported

TRW MANUFACTURED BALL SOCKET ON DRAG LINK SEPARATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. MINOR CRASH WITH NO INJURIES

NHTSA ID
10037951
Incident
Aug 22, 2003
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Jun 6, 2002
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED LIKE WHEN HAVING A FLAT TIRE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED AFTER REPAIRS, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN, THE HEAT VENT FOR THE DASH WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THIS WAS CAUSED FROM THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
565375
Interior & seatsSuspension
Filed Jun 6, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE LCD GRAPHICS DISPLAY WAS SHOWING TRIP MILES, MPG, VOLTMETER, AT 98,000 THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, HOWEVER AT 240,000 CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HIMSELF AND THE MANUFACTURER IS OFFERING NO SOLUTIONS.*JB

NHTSA ID
565370
BrakesSteeringSuspension+2 more
Filed May 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. ON SEVERAL OCCASISIONS THE DASH LIGHTS AND GAUGES OPERATE ERRATICALLY. *TT

NHTSA ID
565933
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed May 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE BRAKE (EXHAUST BRAKE) IS FAULTY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE ROCKER ARMS HAVE WORN OUT. *TT

NHTSA ID
565932
Suspension
Filed May 30, 2002

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH. *TT

NHTSA ID
565931
ElectricalSuspensionTransmission
Filed May 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DROPPED. *TT

NHTSA ID
565361

Manufacturer communications

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

KC-2119

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

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

KC-2112

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN

Programming Failure - Chassis With Cummins Engine And An Allison Transmission

KC-2143

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

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-2028

POWER TRAIN

AMT Control Housing Bench Testing - False Failures

KC-2174

STEERING; SUSPENSION

Volvo Chassis - Drag Link Inspection And Replacement Criteria

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 VN610 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001102—
2000180440.6
1999210339.7
1998Viewing590645.7
1997300—

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.