RoadVitals

1998 Volvo VN770

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.
26
Latest Nov 21, 2003
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Volvo VN770, most frequently naming the suspension, body & structure and electrical categories. 2 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

  • Suspension1017.5%
  • Body & structure814.0%
  • Electrical610.5%
  • Transmission58.8%
  • Steering58.8%
  • Tires & wheels58.8%
  • Interior & seats47.0%
  • Visibility47.0%

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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 26
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CONSUMER SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT SMELL. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE SLEEPER BIRTH AREA, THEN THE CABIN WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10048450
Mileage
513 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CONSUMER SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT SMELL. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE SLEEPER BIRTH AREA, THEN THE CABIN WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. *NLM WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON 195 1998 VOLVO VN770 HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT CAB. FIRE WAS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. TRUCK WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.*MR

NHTSA ID
10048447
Incident
Nov 14, 2003
Mileage
513 mi
Fuel systemOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Feb 12, 2003

THE WHEEL BEARING, AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN SLEEPER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE FUEL TANK BAFFLE WAS LOOSE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10007176
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 31, 2002

PER CONSUMER THE DEALERSHIP ACTION PONTIAC, GMC, VOLVO; DOTHAN AL; 334-794-8505,. IS REFUSING TO HONOR THEIR RECALL FOR VEHICLES' TIRE AND RIM NO RVXX02. TS

NHTSA ID
10001717
Incident
Dec 31, 2002
Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed May 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES IF THE VEHICLE HAS 100 GALLONS OF FUEL OR NO FUEL, THE VEHICLE IS STILL OVER WEIGHT.*JB

NHTSA ID
565926
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified+3 more
Filed May 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE.*JB

NHTSA ID
565919
SteeringSuspensionTransmission
Filed May 30, 2002

VEHICLE IS OVERWEIGHT. *JG

NHTSA ID
565905
ElectricalSuspensionTransmission+1 more
Filed May 13, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PLASTIC CLIPS FROM THE SLEEPER WINDOW BROKE AND HAS HAD ONE WINDOW COMPLETELY FALL OFF. *TT

NHTSA ID
565643

Manufacturer communications

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

KC-2112

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN

Programming Failure - Chassis With Cummins Engine And An Allison Transmission

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-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 VN770 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001501—
2000330030.5
1999310237.1
1998Viewing260240.5

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.