Volvo Vnl Recalls

The Volvo VNL has 113 recalls spanning 1997 through 2025, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2024–2025 models where the steering gear sector shaft can crack or fracture, causing a complete loss of steering control.

The current and near-current generation carries a heavy concentration of steering-related recalls. On 2024 models, a loose fastener connecting the pitman arm and drag link can cause the connection to fail and eliminate steering, and a separate issue involves a castle nut on the steering arm that can loosen and separate with the same result. A 2024–2025 steering gear sector shaft can crack and cause total steering loss. The 2021 model year has a king pin nut that may be missing or undertightened, allowing the steering knuckle to separate from the axle. On 2020–2021 trucks, steering gear mounting fasteners may be insufficiently tightened, and a separate recall covers a brake pedal plate that can break and dislodge the pedal entirely. A single 2020 truck was recalled for a steering gear assembled with too few internal components, also resulting in steering loss.

Recent years also have structural and safety system concerns. The 2022–2024 models with RollTek driver seats have a missing circuit that prevents the side airbag from deploying in a crash. On 2022–2023 trucks, overtightened air tank bracket fasteners can break and allow the air tank to detach and become a road hazard. The 2022 model year has a flywheel that can detach from the crankshaft on Cummins X15-equipped trucks, potentially ejecting driveline pieces from the engine compartment, and a separate software issue can cause the transmission to shift into neutral without warning. Alcoa wheels on certain 2022 trucks may bend or break under load. The 2022–2024 windshield wiper motor gears can wear prematurely and leave the driver without wipers. On 2025 trucks, load lock bars behind the cab can separate and become road hazards, rear brake modulator wiring can short and disable anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, the instrument cluster can go blank while driving, trailer turn signals can stop working, brakes can release too slowly, and automatic high beams may fail to switch to low.

Going back to the 2018–2021 era, an internal clutch component on 2018–2019 trucks with automated manual transmissions can fail and cause unintended vehicle movement. A transmission circuit fuse on 2018–2020 trucks can blow and prevent shifting. Sleeper bunk windows on 2018–2020 models can detach and fall from the vehicle, a problem that also affected 2020 trucks in a separate campaign. A 2021 power steering pump can develop internal pressure that breaks the shaft seal and causes sudden loss of power steering assist. The 2024 model also has a wheel end hub assembly that can leak oil and cause the axle spindle to loosen or fracture.

The 2016–2017 era saw multiple steering shaft recalls: trucks built without a roll pin on the steering shaft can lose the lower shaft entirely, and a two-piece steering shaft with an undertorqued coupling bolt can separate. Tie rod castle nuts on 2016 trucks may be undertorqued, allowing the tie rod to disconnect from the steering knuckle and eliminate steering. Front axle ball joints on 2016 trucks can corrode and fail, also causing steering loss. Front wheel hubs on 2017 trucks were undersized