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1998 Volvo VNL problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Volvo VNL is suspension. It has 1.6 times the complaints of a typical VNL model year.

Typical year1.6x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
8
Recalls
5
Service bulletins
61
Worst area
Suspension

The worst 1998 Volvo VNL problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Suspension
    7
  • Steering
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Volvo VNL

Premature wear 6

Recalls 5

Suspension: frontReported May 28, 2003 · 433 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.
Risk
Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace all front axle hubs. An interim notice to owners was mailed on june 25, 2003. Final owner notification began on october 6, 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 volvo at 1‑800‑528‑6586.

Recall number 03V199000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: tail lights: switchReported September 9, 2002 · 5,532 vehicles affected
What is 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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 02V238000 · Recall details

Service brakes, air: antilockReported April 11, 2002 · 208 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain heavy duty class 8 vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 121, "air brake systems", s5.1.6.3, "antilock power for towed vehicles." electrical power for the trailer anti-lock braking system (ABS) can be disrupted when a switch located on the vehicle instrument panel is activated to control lighting within the trailer.
Risk
If this condition occurs, the driver can lose of the towed vehicle, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install a wiring harness which will provide continuous electrical power to the trailer ABS whenever the ignition switch is in the on or run position. Owner notification began april 29, 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.

Recall number 02V110000 · Recall details

Service brakes, air: antilockReported August 22, 2000 · 18,362 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks built with bendix air ABS with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
Risk
This condition could cause the ABS ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ABS ecu.

Recall number 00V232003 · Recall details

Tires: beadReported October 26, 1999 · 20 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with continental general s380a 295/75r22.5 lr g tires, serial nos. A3371e5488 through a3371e5089. These tires have been overcured.
Risk
This condition can cause tire failure.
Remedy
Continental general is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will exchange the tire for an identical or reasonably equivalent tire.

Recall number 99V296001 · Recall details

See all 5 recalls for the 1998 Volvo VNL

Defect investigations

Drag Link FailureOpened January 15, 2009, closed July 6, 2010

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 the federal safety agency's recall request letter dated June 3, 2010 (available at the federal safety agency's web site . the federal safety agency 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 drag link can fail resulting in a total loss of steering on the vehicle.Volvo changed the size and supplier of the ball joint used on these vehicles starting with the 2006 MY vehicles.The failure rates on the vehicles manufactured with the larger ball joint are significantly less than the subject vehicles.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by ODI that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in Volvo's recall.ODI will continue to monitor the incidence of drag link failures in other MY Volvo trucks.Note:The recall request letter dated June 3, 2010 associated with this investigation describes 49 incidents of ball joint separation.After a comprehensive review of the data it was discovered that the number of separations that the federal safety agency was aware of was 41 with a failure rate of 36.9 R/100K.The 41 separations resulted in 23 crash allegations.

EA09003

Steering bindingOpened February 5, 2004, closed June 24, 2004

Odi's preliminary evaluation focused on the potential for a broken, bent, deformed, fragmented or displaced turn signal canceling ring (tscr), vtna part number 1607363, to restrict thevehicle operator's ability to turn the steering wheel.the pe identified thirteen vtna warranty claims that allege that the tscr had failed and that the vehicle steering effort had been adversely affected.to date, odi has not found any samples of a failed tscr and has not been able to definitively establish whether a failed tscr can or cannot contribute to increased steering effort.odi believes that it is appropriate to conduct further investigation(ea level) to better understand the characteristics of tscr failures and to assess the effect, if any, that these types of failures could have on vehicle steering effort.

PE04014

Integral hub and bearing assemblyOpened December 11, 2002, closed May 30, 2003

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 report for additional details.

PE02095

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Volvo VNL 61

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 61 bulletins for the 1998 Volvo VNL

What 1998 Volvo VNL owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 27, 2010 · Steering · 400,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 volvo vnl. The contact received an unknown manufacturers recall notice concerning the steering drag link september 2010. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised the contact that they would not assist with repairs due to age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 400,000 and the current mileage was 600,000.

Filed Mar 4, 2002 · Suspension · GA

Front end vibrates at any speed. Cause is unknown, also it wears on the tires by dipping on the sides. Took vehicle to dealer and dealer can't duplicate the problem.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Suspension · TN

Premature wear from steer tires resulting from improper combination of race/bearings in meritor axles. Lost wheel assembly.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Suspension · TN

Premature wear from steer tires resulting from improper combination of race/bearings in meritor axles.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Suspension · TN

Premature wear from steer tires resulting from improper combination of race/bearings in meritor axles.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Suspension · TN

Premature wear from steer tires resulting from improper combination of race/bearings in meritor axles.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Suspension · TN

Premature wear from steer tires resulting from improper combination of race/bearings in meritor axles.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Suspension · TN

Premature wear from steer tires resulting from improper combination of race/bearings in meritor axles.

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Questions about the 1998 Volvo VNL

Is the 1998 Volvo VNL reliable?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 1998 Volvo VNL, 1.6 times a typical VNL model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Volvo VNL?

Suspension, with 7 complaints. Next is steering (1).

How many recalls does the 1998 Volvo VNL have?

5 recalls, covering suspension, exterior lighting and service brakes, air.

Was there a recall on the 1998 Volvo VNL suspension?

Yes, 1 recall: 03V199000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

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