Most common 2004 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
2004 Volvo VHD recalls (7)
Exterior lighting
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain 2004-2019 Volvo VHD trucks equipped with snow plow lamp preparation kits. The snow plow headlights can be turned on without other exterior lights, and high beam indicator will not work when the snow plow high beams are on.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the software related to the plow lights, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586.
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…
Show 1 more recall
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 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…
Disc wheel spacers for aluminum wheels
On June 9, 2006, Volvo truck north America filed defect report 06v-213that directs dealers to replace the disc wheel spacer originally installed in 872 (*) model year 2004-2006 vhd vehicles equipped with aluminum wheels.the dealers will install a new disc wheel spacer manufactured by a different supplier.during the disc installation, dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace damaged wheel end components (hub,…
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Volvo VHD a good car?
Based on 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 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 2004 Volvo VHD?
The body & structure — 1 complaint, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (1) and engine & cooling (1).
How many recalls does the 2004 Volvo VHD have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2004 Volvo VHD, the most recent from October 30, 2018 (exterior lighting). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2004 Volvo VHD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 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.