The 2020 Volvo VNRE has 4 recalls, with the most serious being three separate fire risks tied to the electrical system: an overheating coolant heater relay, a high-voltage battery that can short circuit, and a windshield heater relay that can stick on and overheat.
All three fire-related issues stem from the truck's high-voltage electrical architecture. The cabin heater relay can fail and allow the coolant heater to run without limit, generating enough heat to start a fire. The high-voltage battery contains threaded inserts that can break internally and cause a short circuit, also raising the risk of fire. The third issue involves power cables at the windshield heater relay that can work loose, causing the relay to fail in the "on" position and continuously power the cabin heater until the relay itself overheats. On the safety systems side, trucks equipped with a Bendix EC-80 control unit can experience electrical interference that causes the unit to misprocess commands or stop responding entirely, which can degrade or knock out anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise, and the collision mitigation system all at once.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical noise and weak signal strength in the power line carrier may cause the Bendix EC80 electronic control unit to misinterpret commands or fail completely.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the electronic control unit software at no cost to restore proper operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The threaded inserts in the high-voltage battery may be over-tightened and break, potentially causing a short circuit.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the battery at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power cables connecting to the windscreen heater relay may loosen, causing the relay to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will tighten the power cable connections to the relay at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The cabin heater relay may fail, causing the coolant heater to overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will update software in the Hybrid Powertrain Control Unit and Instrument Cluster, and install replacement relays.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
