Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Volvo VHD, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Volvo VHD failed the safety check 6.45% of the time — 206% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 194,599 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
11 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Volvo VHD.
| 2018604 2 Nov 2018 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles equipped with a snowplow preparation kit may fail to comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lightin… |
| 2012356 18 Oct 2012 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 210 – Seatbelt Assembly Anchorages. The weld used to secure the nut to the center-… |
| 2009144 19 May 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may be susceptible to water intrusion, which could result in an electrical short circuit and a fire. This could… |
| 2007394 10 Dec 2007 | Electrical On certain trucks, the automatic circuit breakers used to protect the vehicle lighting system may not provide adequate protection. If a short circuit occurs, c… |
| 2006140 11 Jun 2006 | Wheels On certain vehicles, the material specification of the wheel spacer may not be suitable for some applications where severe operating conditions can result in de… |
| 2006023 27 Jan 2006 | Engine On certain vehicles, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler inlet pipes and/or the pipes that connect the EGR valves to the cooler may fail (crack or break)… |
| 2004345 21 Sept 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may be susceptible to salt spray intrusion which could cause the wiper motor connector to overheat and ignite. … |
| 2004301 23 Aug 2004 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 207. The Isringhausen brand two man bench seat installation does not withstand forces required by… |
| 2004054 10 Feb 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles, the pinch bolt that attaches the drag link to the pitman arm may not have been tightened to the required torque value. This condition coul… |
| 2004055 10 Feb 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, an incorrectly assembled engine pre-heater jumper wiring harness may allow continuous electrical power to the engine pre-heater power relay… |
| 2003108 22 Apr 2003 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles equipped with an optional two man passenger bench seat. The weld on the D-ring mounting bracket for the seat belt at the bench seat inboard… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2002-2013 VHD and VN trucks, manufactured from August 4, 2000, through June 22, 2012, and equipped with bench passenger seats. The seat belt d-ring weld may not be sufficient enough to meet the seat belt pull test. Therefore, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING 127,764 MY 2001-2008 VHD, VNL, VNM, AND MY 2005-2008 VT TRUCKS. A SEAL MAY FAIL ALLOWING WATER AND CONTAMINANTS TO SEEP INTO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR.
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION (I.E. AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKERS) USED TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WHEEL SPACER MAY BECOME DISTORTED FROM HEAT WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CLAMP THAT MAY RESULT IN LOOSE WHEEL NUTS.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH D12D ENGINES, THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER INLET PIPES OR THE PIPES THAT CONNECT THE EGR VALVES TO THE COOLER MAY CRACK OR BREAK.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VALEO WIPER SYSTEMS, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY BE SUSCEPTIVE TO SALT INTRUSION THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE THE CONNECTOR OVERHEATS TO A POINT WHERE THE CONNECTOR COULD IGNITE.
CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, 'SEATING SYSTEMS.' THE BENCH SEAT, AS INSTALLED, DOES NOT THE SEAT PULL REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE ASSEMBLED ENGINE PRE-HEATER JUMPER WIRING HARNESS WAS INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED.
ON CERTAIN HEAVY-DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE PINCH BOLT ATTACHING THE STEERING DRAG LINK TO THE PITMAN ARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.
CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL TWO-MAN PASSENGER BENCH SEAT FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." ON THE TWO-MAN PASSENGER BENCH SEAT INBOARD (CENTER) POSITION, SEAT BELT D-RING MOUNTING BRACKET WELDNUT, THE WELD IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE SEAT BELT PULL REQUIREMENTS .
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 2003 Volvo VHD: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11000873 | CBR - 11 Liter Engines - Fuel In Oil. |
| 10241906 | TSB: Barksdale Leveling Valve, Leak Test |
| 10241904 | CBR: Volvo VHD & VN Models - Vehicle Wil Not Start, PTO Active Message Displayed In Cluster, PTO Light On When PTO Switch Is Turned Off |
| 10240244 | CBR: Programming Failure - Chassis With Cummins Engine And An Allison Transmission |
| 10235293 | CBR: Volvo VHD Models - Allison Reduced Engine Load At A Stop (RELS) Diagnostic Trouble Code P071A Or P07CE - Non-Split/Drop Box PTO. VHD chassis may experience Diagnostic Trouble Code P071A or P07CE along with symptoms of no reduced engine load (RELS) when coming to a stop and/or the transmission going into 4th gear lock up when applying the service brake. |
| 10235288 | CBR: Volvo Chassis - Timing Gear Plate Repair. This solution provides supplementary information to be used when installing a Timing Gear Plate with Integrated Seal. |
| 10235279 | CBR: Volvo On-Highway Vehicles - Bendix ABS Fault SPN 807 FMI 13 Blink code 19-4. The new Central Pressure Control (CPC) system has changed the way that the ABS chuff test is performed. |
| 10232592 | Flywheel Housing Thread Repair |
| 10232589 | Instrument Cluster Programming - Programming Fails Or Errors Display When Replacing An Instrument Cluster With A Newer Part Number (Conversion Kit) - US04 To US10 Chassis (9-Pin Diagnostic Connector) |
| 10219421 | Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions |
| 10215308 | Volvo Chassis - Equipped with An Automated Manual Transmission (AMT, iShift) - SNV 19-002 - AMT Oil Filter Housing Corrosion |
| 10215306 | Volvo Chassis - Drag Link Inspection And Replacement Criteria |
| 10215283 | AMT Control Housing Bench Testing - False Failures |
| 10215282 | DEF Level (UQLS) Sensor Troubleshooting Guide - US17+OBD16 Emissions and Newer |
| 10215281 | Programming Failure - Chassis With Cummins Engine And An Allison Transmission |
| 10215279 | NOx Sensor Troubleshooting Guide - US10+OBD13 And Newer Emissions |
| 10215277 | DTC U012100 - Lost Communication With Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Control Module, No Additional Information |
| 10215276 | (Back Office) - Cruise Control Inoperative After Updating Software VECU5 Without ESP Package (UESP) |
| 10215271 | DEF Pump Troubleshooting Guide - US10+OBD13 And Newer Emissions |
| 10215270 | Temperature Sensor Troubleshooting Guide - US10+OBD13 And Newer |
| 10215265 | Warranty Automated Manual Transmission ( AMT, I-Shift, mDrive ) Control Housing Assembly; Guidelines For Filing A Claim For Chassis Return Visit With Transmission Issues After A Repair Requiring Control Housing Removal And Reinstallation - US07 And Newer |
| 10215263 | Unable To Retrieve "On Request" Messages For PeopleNet Or Omnitracs Modules Installed On The DL5 Data Link; Third Party Electronic Log Device Not Reporting Certain Data |
| 10213634 | Particulate Matter (PM) Sensor Troubleshooting Guide - US14+OBD16 And Newer Emissions |
| 10213631 | DEF Level (UQLS) Sensor Troubleshooting Guide - US17+OBD16 Emissions and Newer |
| 10213604 | Fuel Level Gauge Reading Incorrect In The Instrument Cluster |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INOPERABLE TAIL LIGHTS
FRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS LOOSEN OR BREAK
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation