Volvo Vah Recalls

The Volvo VAH has 23 recalls spanning 2011 through 2026, with the most serious recent issue being loose steering gear fasteners on 2023-2024 models that can allow the steering gear to shift and cause loss of vehicle control.

The 2026 model year has a separate concern: lug nuts can loosen and allow a wheel to detach, creating both a loss of control risk and a road hazard for surrounding traffic. On 2020-2025 models equipped with Bendix EC80 electronic control units, electrical interference can cause the unit to misfire or stop working, disabling traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and collision mitigation systems simultaneously. The 2022-2024 model years have a wiper motor gear wear issue that can cause the wipers to fail entirely, eliminating forward visibility in rain or snow.

The 2021 model year carries several distinct concerns. An air brake line fitting inside the pneumatic pass-through plate can release under pressure, causing the park brakes to apply unexpectedly and potentially throwing the driver off the controls. The passenger-side seat belt anchor may not be properly secured to the floor and can pull free in a crash. Hubcaps on 2021-2022 vehicles can also detach while driving and become road hazards. On 2020-2021 models, the brake pedal plate can fracture at one of its mounting points and leave the driver without a functional brake pedal. The 2019-2020 model years have an air tank strap issue where over-tightened fasteners deform the strap, allowing the transmission auxiliary air tank to drop onto the road and also preventing the transmission from shifting. Transmission circuit fuse failures on 2018-2020 models can lock the transmission out of gear while driving.

Going further back, 2015-2016 models have headlights that can fall below minimum intensity requirements and leave the road ahead poorly lit. The 2014 model year has a seat belt buckle from a specific supplier where pressing the release button can leave the latch plate partially engaged, making it very difficult to exit the cab in an emergency. The 2012-2016 model years have a drag link ball socket boot that can be damaged by the angle of the ball stud, allowing contaminants to corrode the joint until the ball separates from the socket and steering is lost. On 2013 models, a trim panel cutout can block the trailer hand brake handle from returning to the off position, causing trailer brakes to drag, overheat the wheel end, and potentially start a fire or blow a tire. The 2011-2013 model years modified as auto-haulers with upward-facing exhaust diffusers can transfer exhaust heat to the cab roof or the vehicles stacked above. Fifth wheel connectors on 2011-2013 models with Fontaine Ultra LT hardware can develop cumulative locking mechanism damage that allows a trailer to detach unexpectedly. The 2011-2014 model years also have a tire vulnerability to premature failure under high-speed, high-load, or high-temperature conditions.