Most common 2003 Volvo VHD problems
Share of the 3 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo VHD complaints by model year
2003 Volvo VHD recalls (11)
Seat belts
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.
Remedy: Volvo Trucks of America will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspected d-ring, free of change. The safety recall began on May 10, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-336-393-2000.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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.
Remedy: Volvo will replace the wiper motor free of charge. Since this recall involves a large number of vehicles, Volvo will release the recall in stages as parts are received.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the circuit breakers with fuses. The recall began on February 25, 2008. Owners May contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
Wheels
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wheel spacers and the wheel equipment (wheels,studs, and hub) will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2006.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the EGR cooler pipes as required and install a heat shield free of charge. An interim owner letter was mailed on February 17, 2006, to advise on precautions that the owner can take until…
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the connector plate on the windshield wiper motor. Phase 2 of the recall began on November 1, 2004. Owners should contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
Show 5 more recalls
Seats
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger side bench seat with a different brand of seat. The recall began November 1, 2004. Owners should contact Volvo trucks at 1-800-528-6586.
Engine and engine cooling
On certain heavy-duty class 8 trucks, the assembled engine pre-heater jumper wiring harness was incorrectly assembled.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the affected circuits in the jumper wiring harness connector. Owner notification is expected to begin during March 2004.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft pitman
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new pinch bolt and tighten to the required torque. Owner notification is expected to begin during March 2004.
Trailer hitches › Fifth wheel assembly
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bracket pins and repair instructions free of charge. 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…
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
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…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt d-ring mounting bracket. Owner notification began on April 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2003 Volvo VHD:
Inoperable tail lights
Odi opened this investigation based on a technical service bulletin and ewr data. Ewr warranty data is aggregate data and individual reports are not submitted.Volvo reviewed their warranty data and determined that only 63 of the ewr warranty claims related to the subject vehicles displayed symptoms consistent with the TSB.Volvo also noted in their ir response that the tail light configuration is used almost…
Front suspension u-bolts loosen or break
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Volvo VHD a good car?
Based on 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 VHD rates few complaints: 2.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the VHD at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Volvo VHD?
The electrical system — 2 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 Volvo VHD have?
There are 11 recalls for the 2003 Volvo VHD, the most recent from October 18, 2012 (seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2003 Volvo VHD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 214,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.