The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·20V782000·Announced 2020-12-15

2021 Volvo Truck Air Brake Line Defect Recall

Volvo Trucks is recalling 6,982 commercial trucks (2021 VHD, VNL, VNR, and VAH models) because damaged collets in the air brake system may cause park brakes to apply unexpectedly, potentially causing loss of vehicle control.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: Structural vehicle defect in critical brake system. Damaged air brake components may cause unexpected brake application and loss of vehicle control, meeting the Score 4 criterion for structural vehicle defects despite no injuries reported.

Plain-English summary

Volvo Trucks North America is recalling certain 2021 model year VHD, VNL, VNR, and VAH commercial vehicles due to a defect in the pneumatic air brake pass-through plate. Approximately 6,982 vehicles are affected.

The internal jaws (collets) of the brass fitting inserts may have been damaged during leak testing at the factory. This damage can cause the brass fitting to completely release the air brake line from the pass-through plate while the system is pressurized.

If this occurs on the park brake circuit, signal pressure that normally holds off the mechanical spring in the park brake chambers will be lost, allowing the park brakes to apply unexpectedly. When park brakes apply without the driver's input, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners should contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586 to schedule the recall remedy. Dealers will inspect the air brake line for proper engagement of the fitting in the pass-through plate at no cost. Additional information is available by contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visiting www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
VOLVO VAH, VNL, VHD, VNR
Brand
VOLVO
Manufacturer
Volvo Trucks North America
Category
Vehicle — Commercial Truck
Hazard
Affected units
6,982

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (4)

  • VAH
  • VNL
  • VHD
  • VNR

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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