Volvo VN complaints by model year
Best VN years: 2011, 2012, 2016. Compare all years →
1997 Volvo VN recalls (9)
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain heavy duty class 8 trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." the weight certification label which contains front gross axle weight rating (gawr) information does not accurately reflect the actual…
Remedy: Dealers will install new front steer axle tires and new certification label stating the new front steer axle weight rating. Owner notification began December 19, 2002.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Vehicle description: heavy duty class 8 vehicles. Under certain operating conditions, the weight certification label which contains front gross axle weight rating (gawr) information pursuant to the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: The weight certification label will be brought into compliance by one or more of the following means: (1) replacement of the label with one which contains correct information; or (2) replacement of front axle tires,…
Parking brake
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with haldex manifold dash valves (mdv) used in tractor and trailer parking brakes. These valves do not meet the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect valves.
Steering › Linkages
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with a fal 8.0 front steer axle. The upper steering arm can fail without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the upper steering arm and replace it, if required.
Wheels › Rim
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with aftermarket aluminum dual wheels, 22.5x8.25, one-piece, tubeless, supplied by accuride/akw. Certain design revisions combined with process conditions caused fatigue cracks in these wheels.
Remedy: Accuride/akw will replace these wheels.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. The electronic module that controls the daytime running lights (drl) and headlights can fail without warning resulting in the loss of the drl and headlight functions.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drl control module.
Show 3 more recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle description: class 8 heavy duty trucks. A wire that connects the engine control module (ECU) to the automatic braking control system (ABS) controller is missing. The engine brake can lock up the rear axle wheels on a slick pavement, and the ABS would not prevent the lock up.
Remedy: Dealers will install the missing wiring circuit on the ABS brakes.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The relay that controls the electrical power to the windshield wiper motor can fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect relays.
Power train › Manual transmission › Column shift assembly
The transmission shift control lever can break off at the transmission.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these transmission shift control levers with new control levers.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Volvo VN:
U-bolt failures on drive -axle assemblie
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Volvo VN have?
There are 9 recalls for the 1997 Volvo VN, the most recent from November 15, 2002 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo VN?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2012 and 2016. See the full Volvo VN years comparison.
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.