Volvo VNL · model year

2020 Volvo VNL

5 NHTSA complaints, and 9 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
5
Recalls
9

The verdict

The 2020 Volvo VNL posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

Top 30%
fewest complaints, own model years
9
recall campaigns

The 2020VolvoVNL carries 5 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.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2020 VNL is structure with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and exterior lighting (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 9 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 2020 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.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2020 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.

Total Complaints

5 filings

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

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
SUSPENSION1

Recalls (9)

20V24100029/04/2020

STEERING

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2021 VNL and VNR trucks. The steering gear fasteners may have not been properly tightened.

23V90000026/12/2023

STEERING

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling one 2020 VNL truck. The steering gear assembly may have been assembled incorrectly with fewer recirculating balls than are required, which may result in a loss of steering control.

19V75600024/10/2019

STEERING

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020 VNL and VNR vehicles equipped with HD94 Sheppard gear variants. The steering gear mounting fasteners may be insufficiently tightened, allowing the steering gear to loosen.

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.

20V61300005/10/2020

STRUCTURE:BODY

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020 VNL vehicles. The window hinge and mounting hardware are insufficient to hold the window in place if the truck is driven with the sleeper bunk windows open.

20V53600002/09/2020

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2021 VAH, VHD, VNL and VNR vehicles. The die cast pedal plate may break at one of its attachment points, possibly resulting in the brake pedal dislodging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot

19V51000002/07/2019

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2019-2020 VAH, VHD, VNL, and VNR vehicles. The t-bolt clasps on the transmission auxiliary air tank straps may have been over-tightened, resulting in potential deformation to the strap where the t-bolt is anchored.

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

20220302SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2020 Volvo VNL-860. The contact stated that her husband was driving at 65 MPH and towing a 53-foot trailer, and the steering wheel would overcompensate while making adjustment, left or right to stay centered in lane. The failure lead to constant steering adjustments. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the leaf springs and bushings needed to be replaced. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to a second dealer were it was diagnosed and had the gear box replaced. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20210512ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE OWNER PROGRAMMED A 5 MINUTE IDLE SHUT OFF AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANYTHING FOR ME AS THE DRIVER TO STAY WARM AT NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DURING WINTER AND TRAVELING TO STATES LIKE WYOMING WHERE IT REACHED 23 DEGREES. HE HAS MANY THINGS NOT UP TO DOT REGULATIONS WITH HIS TRUCK, LOT OF THINGS ARE NOT WORKING AND DAMAGED. HE ALSO DIDN'T DO ANY TYPE OF A PRE EMPLOYMENT DRUG TEST OR FOR ANY OF THE OTHER DRIVERS HE HIRED. HE THREATENED NOT TO PAY ME AND WITHHELD MY PAY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HE STOLE 800.00 FROM MY BACK ACCOUNT FOR DAMAGES TO HIS COMPANY TRUCK THAT I HADN'T DRIVEN FOR 3 WEEKS I AND CURRENTLY TAKING HIM TO COURT TO GET MY MONEY BACK. HE HAS SCREWED OVER PLENTY OF DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.

20210512EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE OWNER PROGRAMMED A 5 MINUTE IDLE SHUT OFF AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANYTHING FOR ME AS THE DRIVER TO STAY WARM AT NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DURING WINTER AND TRAVELING TO STATES LIKE WYOMING WHERE IT REACHED 23 DEGREES. HE HAS MANY THINGS NOT UP TO DOT REGULATIONS WITH HIS TRUCK, LOT OF THINGS ARE NOT WORKING AND DAMAGED. HE ALSO DIDN'T DO ANY TYPE OF A PRE EMPLOYMENT DRUG TEST OR FOR ANY OF THE OTHER DRIVERS HE HIRED. HE THREATENED NOT TO PAY ME AND WITHHELD MY PAY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HE STOLE 800.00 FROM MY BACK ACCOUNT FOR DAMAGES TO HIS COMPANY TRUCK THAT I HADN'T DRIVEN FOR 3 WEEKS I AND CURRENTLY TAKING HIM TO COURT TO GET MY MONEY BACK. HE HAS SCREWED OVER PLENTY OF DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.

20210512VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE OWNER PROGRAMMED A 5 MINUTE IDLE SHUT OFF AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANYTHING FOR ME AS THE DRIVER TO STAY WARM AT NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DURING WINTER AND TRAVELING TO STATES LIKE WYOMING WHERE IT REACHED 23 DEGREES. HE HAS MANY THINGS NOT UP TO DOT REGULATIONS WITH HIS TRUCK, LOT OF THINGS ARE NOT WORKING AND DAMAGED. HE ALSO DIDN'T DO ANY TYPE OF A PRE EMPLOYMENT DRUG TEST OR FOR ANY OF THE OTHER DRIVERS HE HIRED. HE THREATENED NOT TO PAY ME AND WITHHELD MY PAY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HE STOLE 800.00 FROM MY BACK ACCOUNT FOR DAMAGES TO HIS COMPANY TRUCK THAT I HADN'T DRIVEN FOR 3 WEEKS I AND CURRENTLY TAKING HIM TO COURT TO GET MY MONEY BACK. HE HAS SCREWED OVER PLENTY OF DRIVERS AND SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN.

20200922STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 VOLVO VNL TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLEEPER BUNK WINDOW DETACHED ON TOP HOWEVER, THE BOTTOM BRACKETS PREVENTED THE WINDOW FROM COMPLETELY DETACHING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WESTFALL GMC TRUCK INC LOCATED AT 3915 RANDOLPH RD, RANDOLPH, MO 64161 (816) 455-7262, WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V208000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V208000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,980.

Mileage: 145,980

Compare 2020VolvoVNL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2020 Volvo VNL have?
The 2020 Volvo VNL has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 Volvo VNL?
Yes, the 2020 Volvo VNL has 9 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Volvo VNL?
The most-complained component for the 2020 Volvo VNL is STRUCTURE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2020 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 2020 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.