- The problem
- Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 VNL and VNM trucks manufactured June 21, 2010, to December 14, 2012. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage.
- The risk
- If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Volvo will notify owners, and Fontaine dealers will replace the fifth wheel with an Ultra NT model fifth wheel, free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo's number for this recall is RVXX1507.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Volvo Vah Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2012 Volvo Vah have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 6 recalls, the latest in October 2015 for the fifth wheel assembly.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Vah year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2012 Volvo Vah recalls 6
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 VAH trucks manufactured January 31, 2011, to June 25, 2015, and equipped with a sealed drag link. In the affected trucks, the draglink ball socket boot may be damaged due to the angle of the ball stud. A damaged boot may allow contaminants to enter and corrode the ball socket.
- The risk
- Corrosion will accelerate wear of the ball, possibly resulting in the ball joint separating from the socket, causing loss of steering and an increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drag link with one that has an improved geometry, free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo's number for this recall is RVXX1503.
- The problem
- Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 VAH and VNL trucks manufactured May 12, 2010, to October 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience premature tire failure during certain operating conditions such as high speeds, heavy load, and high road temperature.
- The risk
- Premature tire failure could increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires and set the road speed limiter, free of charge. The recall began on January 16, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo's number for this recall is RVXX1405.
- The problem
- Fontaine Modification (Fontaine) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volvo VAH vehicles modified with upward facing exhaust diffusers for use as auto-haulers. In the affected vehicles, heat from the exhaust may transfer to the roof of the truck cab and/or the vehicles above the cab.
- The risk
- Excessive heat could result in a fire.
- The fix
- Fontaine will notify owners and dealers will replace the diffuser with one of a different shape and design, free of charge. Owners may contact Fontaine at 1-800-366-8246.
- The problem
- Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 VAH, VHD, VNL, and VNM trucks manufactured February 1, 2010, through September 30, 2010 and June 1, 2011, through November 30, 2011. The windshield wiper motor may fail.
- The risk
- Inoperable wipers may result in poor driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Volvo will notify owners and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor, free of charge. The recallbegan on December 6, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-336-393-2000. Volvo's recall number is RVXX1304.
- The problem
- Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 VAH, VHD, VNL, VNM, and VT models. The affected vehicles were built without a redundant clutch disengagement switch. Without a redundant switch, a loss of signal from the brake air pressure switch can prevent the clutch from automatically disengaging when the brake is applied.
- The risk
- Without a signal to disengage the clutch when the brakes are applied, the distance required to stop the truck may lengthen, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Volvo Trucks will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles if necessary. The recall began on August 26, 2013. Volvo's recall number is RVXX1303. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-336-393-2000.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2012 Volvo Vah yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Volvo Vah: every year compared
All Vah years2012 Volvo Vah vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Volvo Vah | 0 | 6 | C | |
| 2012 Volvo S60 | 121 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Volvo C70 | 23 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Volvo C30 | 10 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Volvo S80 | 8 | 3 | B | Compare |
| 2012 Volvo VNL | 5 | 14 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Volvo VT | 1 | 1 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Volvo Vah
Does the 2012 Volvo Vah have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2012 Volvo Vah: fifth wheel assembly (October 2015); connection (August 2015); tires (November 2014); exhaust system (October 2013) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2012 Volvo Vah had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2012 Volvo Vah a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 43 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Volvo Vah year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2012 Volvo Vah has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data