1999 Volvo Wah recalls & complaints

1. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. ON SOME HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLE ASSEMBLIES WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH TRW MODEL 20EDL BALL SOCKETS, THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OUT OF THE SOCKET IN SOME APPLICATIONS.

What could happen: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BALL SOCKET ASSEMBLIES. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERSEDES NHTSA CAMPAIGN NOS. 01V-139.001 AND 02V-037.002. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOU…

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 WAH.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volvo dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 02V037005.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-528-6586.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

2. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

What could happen: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 WAH.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volvo dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 00V232003.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

3. Trailer Hitches

What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WIRE IN THE TRAILER CABLE JUNCTION BOX AT THE END OF THE FRAME MAY NOT CONTAIN POWER FOR THE TRAILER ABS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."

What could happen: UNDER A HEAVY BRAKE APPLICATION (LOCK UP), A NON-FUNCTIONING TRAILER ABS COULD ALLOW THE TRAILER TO SKID, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE CENTER PIN OF THE TRAILER CABLE CIRCUIT.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 WAH.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volvo dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 99V274000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

4. Steering

What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY, CLASS 8, TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES CONTAINING 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS AND MANUFACTURED BY TRW. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.

What could happen: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING MAY 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO TRUCKS AT 1-800-528-6586.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 WAH.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Volvo dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 01V044013.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-528-6586.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Most complained-about parts: Brakes (1), Air (1).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.