Total Complaints
3 filings
VOLVO VNL · model year
2008 VOLVO VNL
3 NHTSA complaints, and 12 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008VOLVOVNL carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 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 2008 VNL is service brakes with 1 filings, followed by structure:body:door (1) and steering (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 12 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 2008 VNL. 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
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recalls (12)
09V03000027/01/2009
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING 366 MY 2006-2009 VNL TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SUPER SINGLE TIRES, BENDIX BRAKE CAM TUBES, AND VOLVO AIR SUSPENSION. THE VIBRATION FREQUENCY FROM THE SUSPENSION WITH SUPER SINGLE TIRES MAY RESULT IN A FATIGUE CRACK OF THE MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR THE BRAKE CAM TUBE.
13V26800026/06/2013
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
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 fr
07V32300024/07/2007
STEERING
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE NUT USED TO RETAIN THE STEERING SHAFT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A LOCK NUT THAT HAS THE LOCKING FEATURE. A LOCK NUT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE NUT DOES NOT COME LOOSE.
08V02800024/01/2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, AN INCORRECT SOFTWARE PARAMETER WAS LOADED WHICH RESULTED IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) 'INHIBIT' FUNCTION BEING DISABLED. THE 'INHIBIT' FUNCTION IS A MEANS FOR THE DRIVER TO STOP A DPF REGENERATION FROM OCCURRING IF A VEHICLE IS IN A LOCATION THAT MAY PRESENT A HAZARDOU
07V49600023/10/2007
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A SAF HOLLAND SIMPLEX FIFTH WHEEL, THE LEVER ARM PIVOT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN OVER TIGHTENED. AN OVER TIGHTENED PIVOT BOLT CAN DISTORT THE PIVOT BOLT SPACER SLEEVE, WHICH MAY PREVENT THE FIFTH WHEEL LATCH JAW FROM CLOSING AND LATCHING SECURELY AROUND THE TRAILER KING PI
09V17300021/05/2009
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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.
07V52900019/11/2007
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING GEAR TO THE FRAME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
07V10800016/03/2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE AXLE HOUSINGS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH STEEL THAT WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FATIGUE FAILURE OVER TIME.
07V57300014/12/2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION (I.E. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS) USED TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION.
10V49200012/10/2010
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 VHD, VNL, VNM, AS WELL AS 2008-2010 VT VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE TIRE DESCRIPTION MAY BE INCORRECT ON THE VEHICLE'S CERTIFICATION LABEL.
07V41000010/09/2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE HOOD RESTRAINT CYLINDER DOES NOT CONTAIN ENOUGH DAMPENING TO ADEQUATELY RESTRAIN THE HOOD.
07V34500007/08/2007
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, AN UNPROTECTED LEAD IN THE THERMOSWITCH OF THE HEATER MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER POST POSSIBLY CREATING A SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN RESULT IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION OF THE HEATING ELEMENT.
Recent Complaints
20160330STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V282000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,605.
Mileage: 80,605
20141219STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
20130103SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO VNL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND APPLING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED AWAY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE SLACK ADJUSTER ON THE SECOND AXLE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 415,000.
Mileage: 415,000
Compare 2008VOLVOVNL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2008 VOLVO VNL have?▼
The 2008 VOLVO VNL has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 VOLVO VNL?▼
Yes, the 2008 VOLVO VNL has 12 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, AIR. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 VOLVO VNL?▼
The most-complained component for the 2008 VOLVO VNL is SERVICE BRAKES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR and STEERING.
Is the 2008 VOLVO VNL 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.