Total Complaints
3 filings
VOLVO VN · model year
2003 VOLVO VN
3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003VOLVOVN carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 VN is suspension:front:hub with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch (1) and unknown or other (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2003 VN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recalls (4)
12V51000018/10/2012
SEAT BELTS
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2002-2013 VHD and VN trucks, manufactured from August 4, 2000, through June 22, 2012, and equipped with bench passenger seats. The seat belt d-ring weld may not be sufficient enough to meet the seat belt pull test. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to th
04V45700017/09/2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VALEO WIPER SYSTEMS, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIVE TO SALT INTRUSION THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE THE CONNECTOR OVERHEATS TO A POINT WHERE THE CONNECTOR COULD IGNITE.
04V07700013/02/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE ASSEMBLED ENGINE PRE-HEATER JUMPER WIRING HARNESS WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
04V31500002/07/2004
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A MALFUNCTION IN THE SOLENOID VALVE MAY ALLOW AIR TO BE RELEASED TO FIFTH WHEEL LATCH WHEN THE PARK BRAKE IS ENGAGED.
Recent Complaints
20100901CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER
2003 VOLVO 660, UNIT 1 STRUCK THE REAR OF UNIT 2. UNIT 1 THEN WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING TO CLOSELY BEHIND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM. (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0467-90) *JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF
20050417LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD SHOCKS ON VOLVO TRUCKS ARE COMING OFF AT HOOD CONECTION SIDE. WHEN PULLING HOOD OPEN IF BOTH SHOCKS ARE LOSE HOOD CAN COME OVER ON DRIVER, CAUSING DRIVER POSSIBLE INJURIES. *AK
20050306SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB
THE BEARINGS IN THE INTEGRAL HUB/BEARING ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (STEERING AXLE) FAILED AT 247,000 MILES. THIS IS A UNIT DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE POSSIBLE. THIS WAS A VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR SUCH A FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS NOTICED BEFORE THAT COULD HAPPEN, BUT SUCH A FAILURE COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. WE PAID APPROXIMATELY $625 FOR PARTS, LABOR, AND SHIPPING FOR A NEW PART. THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED AN IDENTICAL HUB FROM A NEW TRUCK ON THE LOT AND REPLACED OUR HUB. I DOUBT THEY KEPT THE OLD HUB, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT HAVE. THIS WAS AT THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN VINTON, TX, I-10 EXIT 2 IN TEXAS.*AK
Mileage: 247,000
Compare 2003VOLVOVN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 VOLVO VN have?▼
The 2003 VOLVO VN has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 VOLVO VN?▼
Yes, the 2003 VOLVO VN has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 VOLVO VN?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 VOLVO VN is SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2003 VOLVO VN safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.