RecallRadar

HomeVolvoWxll → 2003

2003 Volvo Wxll Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

1 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 12.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious03V183000

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

IF THIS EVENT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE SPEED WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION FREE OF CHARGE. 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 CUMMINS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-343-7357 OR VOLVO TRUCK AT 1-800-528-6586.

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS WESTPORT B GAS PLUS OR C GAS PLUS 6 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION MAY NOT CORRECTLY DETECT A THROTTLE PLATE ACTUATOR FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN AN UNCOMMANDED OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION.

Moderate03V308000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE COULD PUT PERSONS IN DANGER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.

Remedy & full details

VOLVO TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL AIR OPERATED STOP LIGHT SWITCH AND THE NECESSARY WIRING CHANGES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2003. 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 AT 1-800-528-6586.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES, THE BODY BUILDER WIRING OPTION WAS MIS-WIRED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE AUTO NEUTRAL WITH SERVICE BRAKE STATUS OPTION MAY ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO FORWARD GEAR WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S FOOT PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRST.

Complaint volume

1 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

1Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
1Deaths

Across 1 complaints. Severity Index 12.00.

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

  1. Service Brakes, Hydraulic — 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

1999 (3) · 2003 · 2004 (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.