Model year record
1998 Volvo VN610 recalls & problems
The 1998 Volvo VN610 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 59 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is suspension (42 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Volvo VN610.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| SuspensionFront › Hub; Front | 42 | — |
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Alternator/generator/regulator | 18 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine › Diesel | 17 | — |
| SteeringGear box (other than rack and pinion); Hydraulic power assist › Pump | 15 | — |
| Power trainManual transmission; Clutch assembly | 12 | — |
| VisibilityGlass, side/rear; Windshield | 11 | — |
| Unknown or other | 11 | — |
| Service brakes, airSupply › Compressor; Antilock | 9 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system › Injectors; Delivery | 6 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 6 | — |
| StructureBody › Hood; Body | 5 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 3 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- SuspensionCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO VN610. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BROUGHT IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DRAG LINK FELL APART. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 430,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 428,000. UPDATED 10/16/07 *TR
- Steering › Linkages › Drag › Link › ConnectionCrash
TRW MANUFACTURED BALL SOCKET ON DRAG LINK SEPARATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. MINOR CRASH WITH NO INJURIES
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar1 injury
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCKED LIKE WHEN HAVING A FLAT TIRE, CONSUMER WAS INJURED AFTER REPAIRS, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN, THE HEAT VENT FOR THE DASH WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THIS WAS CAUSED FROM THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
CONSUMER STATES THE LCD GRAPHICS DISPLAY WAS SHOWING TRIP MILES, MPG, VOLTMETER, AT 98,000 THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, HOWEVER AT 240,000 CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HIMSELF AND THE MANUFACTURER IS OFFERING NO SOLUTIONS.*JB
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE BRAKE (EXHAUST BRAKE) IS FAULTY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE ROCKER ARMS HAVE WORN OUT. *TT
- Unknown or other
CONSUMER STATES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. ON SEVERAL OCCASISIONS THE DASH LIGHTS AND GAUGES OPERATE ERRATICALLY. *TT
- Unknown or other
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH. *TT
- Suspension
CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAGS DROPPED. *TT
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- STEERING BINDINGClosed
ODI'S INVESTIGATIONCONCLUDED THAT THE LEGS THAT RETAIN THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), PART NUMBER 1607363, TO THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED IN MODEL YEAR 1998 - 1999 VN AND VHD SERIES VTNA (VOLVO TRUCK NORTH AMERICA) VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING.WHEN THE RETENTION LEGS BREAK, THE SEPARATED PIECES OF THE TSCR TYPICALLYREPOSE IN THE HOST CAVITY IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB WHERE THEY WERE DEPOSITED.ODIFOUND THAT BROKEN PIECES OF THE TSCR EITHER (1) MIGRATED FROM THEIR HOST CAVITY AND DROPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR (2) LODGED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL PROXIMATE TO THE TSCR.ODI SIMULATED VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND POSITIONS THAT A SEPARATED PIECE OF THE TSCR MIGHT BECOME LODGED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BUT NONE OF THESE SIMULATIONS GENERATED ANY APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.
- STEERING BINDINGClosed
ODI'S PRELIMINARY EVALUATION FOCUSED ON THE POTENTIAL FOR A BROKEN, BENT, DEFORMED, FRAGMENTED OR DISPLACED TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), VTNA PART NUMBER 1607363, TO RESTRICT THEVEHICLE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.THE PE IDENTIFIED THIRTEEN VTNA WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT ALLEGE THAT THE TSCR HAD FAILED AND THAT THE VEHICLE STEERING EFFORT HAD BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED.TO DATE, ODI HAS NOT FOUND ANY SAMPLES OF A FAILED TSCR AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY ESTABLISH WHETHER A FAILED TSCR CAN OR CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.ODI BELIEVES THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO CONDUCT FURTHER INVESTIGATION(EA LEVEL) TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TSCR FAILURES AND TO ASSESS THE EFFECT, IF ANY, THAT THESE TYPES OF FAILURES COULD HAVE ON VEHICLE STEERING EFFORT.
- FRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS LOOSEN OR BREAKClosed
ODI'SINVESTIGATION DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT LOOSE OR BROKENFRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO ANY CRASHES OR NEAR MISS EVENTS.SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSISREPORT FOR FULL TECHNICAL DETAILS.* 1996/1997 BUILT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNATED BY VOLVO AS 1998 MODEL YEAR.
- SLEEPER BERTH FIRESClosed
- STEERING GEARBOX OR U-JOINTClosed
- STEERING AXLE U-BOLTClosed