Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2000 Volvo VNL with NHTSA between 2000 and 2010.
The largest single group is the suspension.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 8 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 — 42
Against the median year of the Volvo VNL. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 86
16.7% 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 VNL
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Suspension
433.3%
Steering
216.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 406,000 mi
Other & Unspecified
18.3%
Equipment & Accessories
18.3%
Tires
18.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Brakes
18.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Electrical System
18.3%
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.
Dec 2000peak 4Oct 2010
NHTSA investigations into the 2000 Volvo VNL
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.
EA09003Opened 15 Jan 2009Closed 6 Jul 2010STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
Drag Link Failure
EA09-003 is closed with the submission of Volvo's recall 10V-282 recalling approximately 111,034 Model Year (MY) 1998 through 2005 VN and VNL class 8 trucks.Volvo announced recall 10V-282 in response to NHTSA's recall request letter dated June 3, 2010 (available at NHTSA's web site www.safercar.gov). NHTSA found that these vehicles were designed and manufactured with a TRW ball joint that does not meet the combined performance requirements and foreseeable inspection practices of the U.S. market.The ball joint in the steering system that connects the driver's side steering arm/knuckle to the dr...
PE02095Opened 11 Dec 2002Closed 30 May 2003SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
THE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER ARE: SKF (HUB MFR), ARVINMERITOR (FRONT AXLE MFR), AND VOLVO (MANUFACTURER OF CLASS VIII TRACTOR/TRUCKS).SKF IDENTIFIED MANUFACTURING DEFECTS FOR SPECIFIC BUILD DATES ON FRONT AXLE HUB AND BEARINGS (WHEEL BEARINGS) SUPPLIED TO ARVINMERITOR.AS A RESULT, ARVINMERITOR NOTIFIED VOLVO OF AXLES SUPPLIED WITH POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES.AS A RESULT OF THAT NOTIFICATION, 433 TRUCKS ARE BEING RECALLED BY VOLVO FOR DEFECTIVE FRONT AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH MAY FAIL IN SUCH A WAY THAT A WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL BEARING FIRE OCCURS.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY RE...
Recalls on the 2000 Volvo VNL
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 200315914 units in Canada
Suspension
On certain vehicles, a manufacturing defect will result in premature spalling of the wheel bearings, which in turn will lead to eventual breakdown of the bearing. Correction: Dealer will replace both steer axle hubs.
Recall 20002101,580 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles, the ABS ECU misinterprets certain signals from wheel ends which can result in the temporary loss of braking capability on one or more wheel positions for several seconds. This response results from either an ABS cable that has chafed through the insulation and contacted a rotating part or a misaligned tone ring that has been damaged by contacting other components. Correction: ABS ECU will be replaced with a new ECU with upgraded software capable of detecting and properly responding to erroneous signals.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Medina, OHCrash
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONALLY LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE OFF. *TS WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE IT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEER OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRIKE A GUARDRAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10166959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, ILFire
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONAL FIRE STARTED IN AXLE #2. *TS THE BRAKE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON AXLE #2 INSIDE WHEEL OF DUALS.
NHTSA complaint #10163699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 406,000 milesOklahoma City, OK
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE DRAG LINK MAY BE DEFECTIVE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR IT (RECALL INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN) BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED SEPTEMBER 1999. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING IN THE FUTURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 406,000.
NHTSA complaint #10362272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olathe, KS
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE HIGHWAY A TRUCK CARRYING METAL AND A CANVAS SIGN BLEW OFF THE TRAILER AND HIT HIS SEMI. *MC (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPRT)
NHTSA complaint #10190041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medina, OHCrash
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONALLY LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE OFF. *TS WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE IT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEER OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRIKE A GUARDRAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10166959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brunswick, OH
SUSPENSION
2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONAL STEERING ARM BROKE OFF OF THE BALL JOINT MAKING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *KB THE BALL JOINT CONNECTING THE DRAG LINK TO THE STEERING ARM WAS WORN. THE BALL JOINT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10166905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, ILFire
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONAL FIRE STARTED IN AXLE #2. *TS THE BRAKE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON AXLE #2 INSIDE WHEEL OF DUALS.
NHTSA complaint #10163699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flint, MI
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2000 VOLVO CONVENTIONAL TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT INSIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE DEBRIS STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE FUEL TANK BREAKING THE FUEL LINE. THE TRUCK SPILLED APPROXIMATELY 30 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL INTO A DITCH.
NHTSA complaint #10148608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, 00
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEER TIRES WERE WEARING ABNORMALLY. (VOLVO TRUCK VNL610)
NHTSA complaint #565379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apache Junction, AZ
SUSPENSION
MODEL VNL660. CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PREMATURE STEER TIRE WEAR. 4 SETS OF STEER TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THREE AXLE ALIGNMENTS. BALANCED TIRES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCES WHEEL HOP. TT
NHTSA complaint #565916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apache Junction, AZ
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MODEL VNL660. CONSUMER STATES AC CLUTCH IS NOISY. DEALER FOUND LOW VOLTAGE COMPRESSOR.
NHTSA complaint #565916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apache Junction, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MODEL VNL660. CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF THE SLEEPER LIGHTS, 12V TV PLUG.
NHTSA complaint #565916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Vergne, TN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
PREMATURE WEAR FROM STEER TIRES RESULTING FROM IMPROPER COMBINATION OF RACE/BEARINGS IN MERITOR AXLES. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #560201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huston, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK IS BUILT RIGHT UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SEAT, AND IT IS LOW TO THE GROUND. TANK WAS SPEARD WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ALL GAS TO LEAK. VOLVO HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #876143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.