Total Complaints
12 filings
Volvo VNL · model year
2018 Volvo VNL
12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 5 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 5
The verdict
The 2018 Volvo VNL posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- 22nd pctile
- complaint volume, own model years
- 5
- recall campaigns
The 2018VolvoVNL carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2018 VNL is power train with 3 filings, followed by steering (2) and air bags (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2018 VNL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
12
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2018 Volvo VNL
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
3 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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
Recalls (5)
18V66800025/09/2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Volvo VNL trucks equipped with Cummins ISX15 diesel engines. In certain driving conditions, such as on a long down-hill grade, the fuel line may burst if the fuel pump cooling circuit screen becomes restricted.
19V20800018/03/2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2018-2020 VNL and VNX vehicles configured as 740 and 760 sleeper models. The sleeper bunk window may detach and fall from the vehicle.
19V03200014/01/2019
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volvo VNL vehicles equipped with an automated manual transmission. An internal component in the clutch assembly may fail, possibly resulting in unintended vehicle movement.
19V50900002/07/2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2018-2020 VAH, VHD, VNL, and VNR vehicles. The fuse in the transmission circuit may blow, preventing the transmission from shifting.
20V38400001/07/2020
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain 2018-2021 VNL and VNR buses. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the rear drive axles stated on the Federal Certification Label exceeds the rating of the wheel hubs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR P
Recent Complaints
20230221POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Volvo VNL Truck. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was lunging forward and failed to properly respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no additional information provided. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the power train warning light illuminated a week later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 600,000.
Mileage: 600,000
20230221POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a Volvo 2018 VNL64 Commercial vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle would shut down while driving at various speeds. There was no further information provided. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the high pressure fuel pump filter, the differential pressure sensor, the rear wire harness were replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing transmission failures and would fail to respond intermittently while reversing. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 537,850.
Mileage: 537,850
20230221FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a Volvo 2018 VNL64 Commercial vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle would shut down while driving at various speeds. There was no further information provided. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the high pressure fuel pump filter, the differential pressure sensor, the rear wire harness were replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing transmission failures and would fail to respond intermittently while reversing. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 537,850.
Mileage: 537,850
20230103VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE
The contact owns a 2018 Volvo VNL. The contact stated that while approaching a stop, the clutch failed to disengage. The contact also stated that after decelerating, he depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle rolled back. The contact stated that the check warning light illuminated, indicating to check the transmission at the next stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and produced code: DTC-P107538 (Throttle Actuator Control Module) however, the contact was informed by the dealer that the clutch needed to fail 5 more times before the vehicle would be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 574,000.
Mileage: 574,000
20200712STEERING
2019 COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT UNEVEN WEARING OF THE FRONT TIRES THEY CHECKED ALIGNMENT THEN SAME COMPLAINT IN MARCH 2020 NO DEFECTS FIND THEN IN JULY 02 2020 I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF VIBRATION , AFTER INSPECTION THEY FOUND PLASTIC BUSHINGS FOR BOTH KINGPINS WORN OUT AND REPLACED AS WHOLE SETS. MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT PREMATURE FAILURE COMPONENTS AT 300000 MILES DUE TO USE OF PLASTIC BUSHINGS BY MANUFACTURER. TRUCK WAS USED ON HIGHWAYS NOT AS A VOCATIONAL TRUCK
Mileage: 300,000
20200319ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE WORKING NOT PROPERLY AND SHAKING!!!ITS HAPPENED IN 2019 !!! NOW THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN!!!
20200319ENGINE
ENGINE WORKING NOT PROPERLY AND SHAKING!!!ITS HAPPENED IN 2019 !!! NOW THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN!!!
20190227POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLVO VNL. WHILE DRIVING 57-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,421. *TR
Mileage: 99,421
20190107STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL ON ALL NEW 2018 VOLVO VNL760 TRACTORS IS PAINFUL TO USE, IMPOSSIBLE TO GRIP PROPERLY, AND HAS A MIS-FUNCTIONING TURN SIGNAL LEVER. PLEASE SEE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=8LT4MCUVUCG
Mileage: 625
20180924CrashAIR BAGS
A PRIOR WRECK HAPPEN SEMI TRUCK TRAILER CROSS MEDIAN AND LAY OVER BLOCKING ALL MY LANES IN THE DARK ON 09/10/18 TIME 0040 HRS RAINING WIPER ON . DID NOT SEE IT TILL FINAL SECONDS ROOF OF SEMI TRAILER FACING ME ON THE GROUND I DROVE THRU THE ROOF OF SEMI TRAILER WITH A LOAD OF CANDY IN IT AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF , EARLY WARNING DISTANCE SENSOR DID NOT GO OFF EXTREME DAMAGE TO FRONT HOOD , CAB AREA MAYBE WITH THE TRAILER IN A ANGLE HIT AND ROOF FACING ME SENSORS DID NOT GO OFF VEHICLE ???
Mileage: 200,000
20180924CrashSERVICE BRAKES
A PRIOR WRECK HAPPEN SEMI TRUCK TRAILER CROSS MEDIAN AND LAY OVER BLOCKING ALL MY LANES IN THE DARK ON 09/10/18 TIME 0040 HRS RAINING WIPER ON . DID NOT SEE IT TILL FINAL SECONDS ROOF OF SEMI TRAILER FACING ME ON THE GROUND I DROVE THRU THE ROOF OF SEMI TRAILER WITH A LOAD OF CANDY IN IT AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF , EARLY WARNING DISTANCE SENSOR DID NOT GO OFF EXTREME DAMAGE TO FRONT HOOD , CAB AREA MAYBE WITH THE TRAILER IN A ANGLE HIT AND ROOF FACING ME SENSORS DID NOT GO OFF VEHICLE ???
Mileage: 200,000
20180924CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
A PRIOR WRECK HAPPEN SEMI TRUCK TRAILER CROSS MEDIAN AND LAY OVER BLOCKING ALL MY LANES IN THE DARK ON 09/10/18 TIME 0040 HRS RAINING WIPER ON . DID NOT SEE IT TILL FINAL SECONDS ROOF OF SEMI TRAILER FACING ME ON THE GROUND I DROVE THRU THE ROOF OF SEMI TRAILER WITH A LOAD OF CANDY IN IT AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF , EARLY WARNING DISTANCE SENSOR DID NOT GO OFF EXTREME DAMAGE TO FRONT HOOD , CAB AREA MAYBE WITH THE TRAILER IN A ANGLE HIT AND ROOF FACING ME SENSORS DID NOT GO OFF VEHICLE ???
Mileage: 200,000
Compare 2018VolvoVNL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2018 Volvo VNL have?▼
The 2018 Volvo VNL has 12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 Volvo VNL?▼
Yes, the 2018 Volvo VNL has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Volvo VNL?▼
The most-complained component for the 2018 Volvo VNL is POWER TRAIN with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2018 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.
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2018 Volvo VNL; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.