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1996 Volvo Wia Recalls & Complaints

7

open safety recalls on record

Serious

35 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.20 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious97V023000

Structure:Body

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.

Remedy & full details

VOLVO HEAVY TRUCK WILL BE PROVIDING WARNING LABELS TO BE INSTALLED BY OWNERS ON THEIR TRUCKS.

WARNING LABELS IDENTIFYING THE CLIMBING SEQUENCE AND PROCESS WERE OMITTED.

Serious97V196004

Suspension:Front:Hub

CRACKS IN A HUB FLANGE CAN RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE FRONT HUBS WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN LEVEL 2 HUB.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DESIGN LEVEL 1, ROCKWELL FF980 SERIES FRONT AXLE. THE FRONT AXLE HUB FLANGE CAN DEVELOP CRACKS DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS.

Serious96V038000

Steering:Linkages

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR A BROKEN KING PIN AND REPLACE THE KING PINS IF BROKEN.

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.

Moderate02V238000

Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights:Switch

IT MAY NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER OF A REARWARD APPROACHING VEHICLE TO HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE LAMPS.

Remedy & full details

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 1-800-528-6586.

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.

Moderate96V233004

Suspension:Rear

THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CLASS 8 HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EATON DRIVE AXLES AND AXILOK SPINDLE NUTS. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Moderate96V095000

Service Brakes, Air

THIS CONDITION WOULD KEEP THE REAR AXLE SERVICE BRAKES APPLIED WITHOUT ANY BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT BY THE DRIVER raises the risk of A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Moderate98V255000

Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension:Lines And Fittings

THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NECESSARY AIR PRESSURE PROTECTION VALVE.

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.

Complaint volume

35 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
1Fires
1Injuries
0Deaths

Across 35 complaints. Severity Index 0.20.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Suspension5 · 14%Structure2 · 6%Steering2 · 6%Power Train · Manual Tran…2 · 6%Service Brakes, Air2 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling2 · 6%Electrical System2 · 6%Equipment · Appliance · A…2 · 6%
  1. Suspension — 5 reports
  2. Structure — 2 reports
  3. Steering — 2 reports
  4. Power Train:Manual Transmission — 2 reports
  5. Service Brakes, Air — 2 reports
  6. Engine And Engine Cooling — 2 reports
  7. Electrical System — 2 reports
  8. Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner — 2 reports
  9. Air Bags — 1 reports
  10. Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (4) · 1996 · 1997 (6) · 1998 (4) · 1999 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.