1998 Volvo VN610 problems
Owners have filed 164 complaints about the 1998 Volvo VN610 with NHTSA. Suspension accounts for 25.6% of them — the clear leader, ahead of electrical system at 11%.
Complaints164
Crashes3
Fires1
Injuries6
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Suspension 25.6% · 42
Electrical system 11.0% · 18
Engine and engine cooling 10.4% · 17
Steering 9.1% · 15
Power train 7.3% · 12
Visibility 6.7% · 11
Unknown or other 6.7% · 11
Service brakes, air 5.5% · 9
Severity
Of those complaints, 3 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire, 6 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Filings are rising — 137 in the last three years against 27 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 110,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Consumer states vehicle is constantly over weight on the front axle, forcing consumer to travel with less than half of fuel capacity. Truck weighs around 12,000 whem empty or no load. With full fuel, can reach 12,500 to 13,000. Steer tires vibrate and start to deteriorate at about 60,000 miles. Suspension
Consumer was experiencing steer tire wear, with heavy load the tire life was 38,000 miles and with light load it is about 90,000 miles. Suspension
Vehicle experienced several fuel system problems, the exhaust bellows leaked and were replaced, exhaust manifold was loose and was replaced, injectors were replaced, injector tubes reamed and were replaced, air intake duct was modified, muffler was unnecessarily replaced, fuel pump was replaced 6 times, there were fuel line and fuel filter assembly problems, vehicle experienced poor fuel mileage. *Slc Fuel system, gasoline
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…