The 2021 Volvo VNRE has 4 recalls, the most serious being two separate fire risks: a windscreen heater relay that can overheat if it fails in the closed position, and a high-voltage battery where broken internal fasteners can cause an electrical short circuit.
Both fire-related issues stem from the truck's electrical system. The relay concern involves a loose power cable connection that can keep the relay energized and overheating, while the battery issue involves fastener damage that can trigger a short. A third recall covers a closely related problem where the cabin heater relay fails and allows the coolant heater to overheat, also raising the risk of fire. On the safety systems side, electrical interference can cause the Bendix EC80 control unit to misprocess commands or stop responding entirely, which can reduce or cut out automatic traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, active cruise control, and collision mitigation.