Consumer states the cluster display/fuel mgt. Panel is bad, fawr is 12,350, truck weight kingpin at center splitting the drives and empty trailer attached is 10,860 fuel at almost full capacity, dual 125 gallon tanks per drivers.
The worst 2001 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.
Recalls 8
Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection
- What is wrong
- Volvo trucks is recalling certain model year 2001-2006 vnl and vnm trucks manufactured with a trw sealed drag links. Certain factors can exist, which if left untreated may result in a ball socket separation.
- Risk
- Ball socket separation at the drag link results in complete loss of steering, and therefore can result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the ball socket or the drag link as required if necessary. As parts are limited, volvo trucks mailed an interim owner letter on september 2, 2010. The safety recall began on february 14, 2011. Owners may contact volvo trucks at 1‑800‑528‑6586.
Recall number 10V282000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
- What is wrong
- Volvo trucks is recalling 127,764 my 2001-2008 vhd, vnl, vnm, and my 2005-2008 vt trucks. A seal may fail allowing water and contaminants to seep into the windshield wiper motor.
- Risk
- If this happens a short circuit may occur, which over time could possibly lead to a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Volvo will replace the wiper motor free of charge. Since this recall involves a large number of vehicles, volvo will release the recall in stages as parts are received. Priority will be given to the vehicles located in the regions/states that have a corrosive environment. The recall began on september 30, 2009. Owners may contact volvo trucks at 1‑800‑528‑6586.
Recall number 09V173000 · Recall details
Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly
- What is wrong
- On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with jost international jsk 37u series fifth wheels, a fatigue crack can develop in the bracket pin weld under certain loading conditions.
- Risk
- If left undetected or corrected it could lead to the separation of the fifth wheel top plate from its mounting structure, possibly resulting in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the bracket pins and repair instructions 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 jost international at 616‑846‑7700 or by email to [email protected] or volvo truck at 800‑528‑6586.
Recall number 03V204000 · Recall details
Suspension: front
- 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: switch
- 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: antilock
- 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: supply: check valve
- What is wrong
- On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor wabco pneumatic anitlock brake system (ABS) valve packages, the assembly bolts on these valve packages were not tightened correctly.
- Risk
- Bolts torqued below specification will not reliably prevent air leakage at the affected ABS valve package interface joints once the component begins normal vehicle operation. If air leaks develop at any of the ABS valve package interface joints, brake system pressure reductions could occur during braking or normal operation with units equipped with the traction control option, potentially extending stopping distances, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will tighten the fasteners to the proper specification. Owner notification began february 27, 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 02V018003 · Recall details
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 trucks. The wrong steering column to steering gear shaft may have been installed in these vehicles. Using the shorter vnm steering shaft could result in steering shaft being operated (steering column extended adjustment) outside the normal operating range of the steering shaft.
- Risk
- Over time this condition could result in accelerated wear in the shaft with the potential for loss of steering as a result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install the correct lower steering shaft. Owner notification began june 27, 2001. 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 01V201000 · Recall details
See all 8 recalls for the 2001 Volvo VNL
Defect investigations
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 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
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 report for additional details.
PE02095
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 Volvo VNL 66
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- CBR: Volvo VHD & VN Models
- Barksdale Leveling Valve, Leak Test
- CBR: Programming Failure
- Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information – August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log)
- Warranty Automated Manual Transmission ( AMT, I-Shift, mDrive ) Control Housing Assembly; Guidelines For...
- (Back Office)
- DTC U012100
- Programming Failure
- AMT Control Housing Bench Testing
- Volvo Chassis
What 2001 Volvo VNL owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Compare the 2001 Volvo VNL
Other model years
1998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092011201220132014201520162018201920222023
Questions about the 2001 Volvo VNL
Is the 2001 Volvo VNL reliable?
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2001 Volvo VNL, fewer than a typical VNL model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Volvo VNL?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo VNL have?
8 recalls, covering steering, visibility and trailer hitches.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2001 Volvo VNL?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history