Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2000 Volvo VN with NHTSA between 2000 and 2009.
The largest single group is the steering.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 15
Against the median year of the Volvo VN. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2000 Volvo VN
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Suspension
330.0%
Steering
330.0%
Body & Structure
110.0%
Median failure at 150,000 miles
Brakes
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2000peak 4Feb 2009
NHTSA investigations into the 2000 Volvo VN
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP01006Opened 10 May 2001Closed 23 Jan 2002EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20043458,392 units in Canada
Other
On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may be susceptible to salt spray intrusion which could cause the wiper motor connector to overheat and ignite. A vehicle fire could result in property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the connector plate on the windshield wiper motor.
Recall 20021471,891 units in Canada
Suspension
Certain vehicles affected may contain tie rod assemblies, model 20-EDL, manufactured by TRW. These tie rods may display premature wear that could eventually lead to the ball stud seperating from the socket assembly causing a possible loss of steering control. Correction: Dealer will replace the tie rod assemblies.
Recall 20012611,074 units in Canada
Steering
The steer axle tie rod ball-socket assembly ball stud may separate from the socket due to premature wear. If this event occurs, there will be no steering control to the right steer axle with the potential for a vehicle crash. Correction: suspect tie rod ball-socket assemblies will be inspected and replaced as required by dealers.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 150,000 milesMonticello, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO VN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE OPENED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE FRONTAL VISIBILITY IS REDUCED AND INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER MUST CONTINUALLY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD LATCHES AND LINKAGES. THE FAILURE TYPICALLY RECURS AFTER TWO YEARS. CURRENTLY, ALL OF THE REMEDIES HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT IN CORRECTING THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,560.
NHTSA complaint #10257706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH THE DASH CONTROLS GOING OUT TWICE, WAS TOLD THERE IS A SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #565609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cicero, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #863631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scottdale, AZ
POWER TRAIN
IT IS HARD TO READ THE SPEED ON THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE, ESPECIALLY IN ARIZONA WHERE IT IS REQUIRED TO WEAR SUN GLASSES. NUMBERS ARE TOO SMALL, AND THE COLOR IS BETTER TO BE SEEN AT NIGHT THAN IN THE DAY TIME. CONSUMER HAS TO FOCUS ON THE NUMBERS TO SEE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #855657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.