The Volvo WIA has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1988–2002. On average a defect was admitted 4.13 years after the car was built, the slowest took 12 years. The most recalled system is Suspension (5 campaigns). Owners also filed 28 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Volvo WIA
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Suspension 5 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. The air suspension control valve supply line was not plumbed through an air pressure protection valve. In the event of a failure, there would be loss of air pressure in the 'b' system air reservoir that supplies air pressure for the front steer axle brakes
Risk. This condition would result in increased stopping distances
Fix. Dealers will install the necessary air pressure protection valve
What's wrong. Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. The air suspension control valve supply line was not plumbed through an air pressure protection valve. In the event of a failure, there would be loss of air pressure in the 'b' system air reservoir that supplies air pressure for the front steer axle brakes
Risk. This condition would result in increased stopping distances
Fix. Dealers will install the necessary air pressure protection valve
What's wrong. Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. The steer axle wheel bearing jam nut lock washer may not have been bent over the jam nut after the wheel bearings were adjusted
Risk. If this condition exists, the jam nut and wheel bearing adjusting nut can back off the spindle allowing the wheel and the brake drum assembly to separate from the vehicle increasing the risk of a vehicle crash
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering axle wheel bearing jam nut lock washer to determine if it is bent over the jam nut, and if not, repair as required
Exterior Lighting 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain heavy duty class 8 trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the two tail lamps, back-up lamp,and license tag lamp were mounted on insufficiently rigid mounts
Risk. It may not allow the driver of a rearward approaching vehicle to have full view of the lamps
Fix. Dealers will attach the two tail lamps, back-up lamp, and the license tap lamp on stiffer brackets. Owner notification began october 31, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volvo trucks at…
What's wrong. Certain heavy duty class 8 trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the two tail lamps, back-up lamp,and license tag lamp were mounted on insufficiently rigid mounts
Risk. It may not allow the driver of a rearward approaching vehicle to have full view of the lamps
Fix. Dealers will attach the two tail lamps, back-up lamp, and the license tap lamp on stiffer brackets. Owner notification began october 31, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volvo trucks at…
What's wrong. Certain heavy duty class 8 trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the two tail lamps, back-up lamp,and license tag lamp were mounted on insufficiently rigid mounts
Risk. It may not allow the driver of a rearward approaching vehicle to have full view of the lamps
Fix. Dealers will attach the two tail lamps, back-up lamp, and the license tap lamp on stiffer brackets. Owner notification began october 31, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volvo trucks at…
Parking Brake 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with haldex manifold dash valves (mdv) used in tractor and trailer parking brakes. These valves do not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 121, "air brake systems." a loss of the isolation of the two brake system circuits can result in the loss of service brakes when there is another failure of one of the two brake circuits
Risk. The loss of service brakes can occur, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will replace the suspect valves
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with haldex manifold dash valves (mdv) used in tractor and trailer parking brakes. These valves do not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 121, "air brake systems." a loss of the isolation of the two brake system circuits can result in the loss of service brakes when there is another failure of one of the two brake circuits
Risk. The loss of service brakes can occur, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will replace the suspect valves
Wheels 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with aftermarket aluminum dual wheels, 22.5x8.25, one-piece, tubeless, supplied by accuride/akw. Certain design revisions combined with process conditions caused fatigue cracks in these wheels
Risk. This condition can cause failure of these wheels
Fix. Accuride/akw will replace these wheels
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with aftermarket aluminum dual wheels, 22.5x8.25, one-piece, tubeless, supplied by accuride/akw. Certain design revisions combined with process conditions caused fatigue cracks in these wheels
Risk. This condition can cause failure of these wheels
Fix. Accuride/akw will replace these wheels
Structure 1 Read
What's wrong. Warning labels identifying the climbing sequence and process were omitted
Risk. Persons not using the sequence and process during cab entry or exit or when using the optional back of cab access may slip and/or fall causing personal injury
Fix. Volvo heavy truck will be providing warning labels to be installed by owners on their trucks
What's wrong. Warning labels identifying the climbing sequence and process were omitted
Risk. Persons not using the sequence and process during cab entry or exit or when using the optional back of cab access may slip and/or fall causing personal injury
Fix. Volvo heavy truck will be providing warning labels to be installed by owners on their trucks
Service Brakes, Air 1 Read
What's wrong. The traction solenoid exhaust can be obstructed due to inadequate drainage and a build-up of road contamination between the mounting bracket and the solenoid housing. The obstructed exhaust prevents the relay valve control air pressure from venting after a differential braking traction event
Risk. This condition would keep the rear axle service brakes applied without any brake pedal movement by the driver increasing the risk of a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will remove the suspect valve and install a new valve that has a modified solenoid housing which will allow for sufficient drainage and a new valve mounting bracket with increased height to reduce entry of contamination
What's wrong. The traction solenoid exhaust can be obstructed due to inadequate drainage and a build-up of road contamination between the mounting bracket and the solenoid housing. The obstructed exhaust prevents the relay valve control air pressure from venting after a differential braking traction event
Risk. This condition would keep the rear axle service brakes applied without any brake pedal movement by the driver increasing the risk of a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will remove the suspect valve and install a new valve that has a modified solenoid housing which will allow for sufficient drainage and a new valve mounting bracket with increased height to reduce entry of contamination
What's wrong. The traction solenoid exhaust can be obstructed due to inadequate drainage and a build-up of road contamination between the mounting bracket and the solenoid housing. The obstructed exhaust prevents the relay valve control air pressure from venting after a differential braking traction event
Risk. This condition would keep the rear axle service brakes applied without any brake pedal movement by the driver increasing the risk of a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will remove the suspect valve and install a new valve that has a modified solenoid housing which will allow for sufficient drainage and a new valve mounting bracket with increased height to reduce entry of contamination
Steering 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 vehicles built with a volvo 5.7 (12,500 lbs) front steering axle. Due to hydrogen embrittlement, the front steering axle king pins could have broken during assembly. Continued operation of a vehicle with a broken king pin could allow the pin to work loose
Risk. This condition can cause erratic steering resulting in loss of steering control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will inspect the vehicles for a broken king pin and replace the king pins if broken
Trailer Hitches 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 trucks equipped with fontaine fifth wheel assemblies, models sl5wms6125, sl5wms7125, sl5wms8125, sl5wms9125, sl5wms10125, sl5apm6125, sl5apm7125, slapm8125, sl5apm9125, sl5apm10125, sl5wms-d, sl5apm-d, and sl5bps-d. Improper installation of the fifth wheel assembly can cause cracking of the fifth wheel mounting plate
Risk. Under the trailer loading, the mounting plate could eventually fail due to fatigue
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the mounting plates that are cracked
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 trucks equipped with fontaine fifth wheel assemblies, models sl5wms6125, sl5wms7125, sl5wms8125, sl5wms9125, sl5wms10125, sl5apm6125, sl5apm7125, slapm8125, sl5apm9125, sl5apm10125, sl5wms-d, sl5apm-d, and sl5bps-d. Improper installation of the fifth wheel assembly can cause cracking of the fifth wheel mounting plate
Risk. Under the trailer loading, the mounting plate could eventually fail due to fatigue
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the mounting plates that are cracked
What's wrong. Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 trucks equipped with fontaine fifth wheel assemblies, models sl5wms6125, sl5wms7125, sl5wms8125, sl5wms9125, sl5wms10125, sl5apm6125, sl5apm7125, slapm8125, sl5apm9125, sl5apm10125, sl5wms-d, sl5apm-d, and sl5bps-d. Improper installation of the fifth wheel assembly can cause cracking of the fifth wheel mounting plate
Risk. Under the trailer loading, the mounting plate could eventually fail due to fatigue
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the mounting plates that are cracked
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 4.13 years |
| Slowest campaign | 12 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 36.8% |
| Campaigns on record | 12 |
Which WIA years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2001 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2000 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1999 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1998 | Parking Brake | |
| 1997 | Parking Brake | |
| 1996 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1995 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1994 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1993 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1992 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1991 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1990 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1989 | Trailer Hitches | |
| 1988 | Trailer Hitches |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Volvo WIA have?
12 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1988–2002. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my WIA still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 4.13 years, and the slowest campaign came 12 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.