- The problem
- Certain heavy duty class 8 trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." The weight certification label which contains front gross axle weight rating (gawr) information does not accurately reflect the actual front gross axle weight.
- The risk
- When operating bobtail with full fuel tanks and two occupants with an allowance for personal belongings, the actual gross axle weight may exceed the stated rating found on the weight certification label.
- The fix
- Dealers will install new front steer axle tires and new certification label stating the new front steer axle weight rating. Owner notification began december 19, 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.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Volvo VN Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1997 Volvo VN have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 9 recalls, the latest in November 2002 for the labels.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical VN year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1997 Volvo VN recalls 9
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
- Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 vehicles. Under certain operating conditions, the weight certification label which contains front gross axle weight rating (gawr) information pursuant to the requirements of fmvss no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars," does not accurately reflect the actual front gross axle weight.
- The risk
- When operating the truck "bobtail" with full fuel tanks and two occupants with an allowance for personal belongings, the actual gross axle weight may exceed the stated rating found on the weight certification label.
- The fix
- The weight certification label will be brought into compliance by one or more of the following means: (1) replacement of the label with one which contains correct information; or (2) replacement of front axle tires, rims or tie rod tube or a combination thereof; or (3) replacement or relocation of the fuel tanks. Due to the various truck configurations, several owner notification letters are being sent for this campaign. The first owner notification letter was mailed april 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy or label within a reasonable time should contact volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with haldex manifold dash valves (mdv) used in tractor and trailer parking brakes. These valves do not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 121, "Air brake systems." A loss of the isolation of the two brake system circuits can result in the loss of service brakes when there is another failure of one of the two brake circuits.
- The risk
- The loss of service brakes can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT VALVES.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with a fal 8.0 Front steer axle. The upper steering arm can fail without warning.
- The risk
- This condition can result in the loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the upper steering arm and replace it, if required.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with aftermarket aluminum dual wheels, 22.5X8.25, One-piece, tubeless, supplied by accuride/akw. Certain design revisions combined with process conditions caused fatigue cracks in these wheels.
- The risk
- This condition can cause failure of these wheels.
- The fix
- ACCURIDE/AKW WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. The electronic module that controls the daytime running lights (drl) and headlights can fail without warning resulting in the loss of the drl and headlight functions.
- The risk
- If these lights fail, a visibility problem would occur increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL CONTROL MODULE.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. A wire that connects the engine control module (ecu) to the automatic braking control system (abs) controller is missing. The engine brake can lock up the rear axle wheels on a slick pavement, and the abs would not prevent the lock up.
- The risk
- If the wheels locked up, the potential for a vehicle crash could occur.
- The fix
- Dealers will install the missing wiring circuit on the abs brakes.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The relay that controls the electrical power to the windshield wiper motor can fail.
- The risk
- If the windshield wipers fail, the driver's visibility in wet weather will be reduced increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT RELAYS.
- The problem
- The transmission shift control lever can break off at the transmission.
- The risk
- If the shift lever fails, the transmission cannot be shifted and the vehicle can become a hazard or obstruction to other drivers.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace these transmission shift control levers with new control levers.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1997 Volvo VN 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 VN: every year compared
All VN years1997 Volvo VN vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Volvo VN | 0 | 9 | F | |
| 1997 Volvo 850 | 121 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 1997 Volvo 960 | 25 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1997 Volvo S90 | 7 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1997 Volvo S70 | 4 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1997 Volvo 940 | 1 | 0 | A | 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 1997 Volvo VN
Does the 1997 Volvo VN have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 1997 Volvo VN: labels (November 2002); labels (March 2001); parking brake (February 2000); linkages (November 1998) 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 1997 Volvo VN had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1997 Volvo VN a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 23 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Volvo VN 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.
Which Volvo VN years have the most complaints?
2003 (3), 2007 (3), 2005 (2). See every Volvo VN year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Volvo VN 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