2001 Volvo VN Problems & Complaints

Few complaintsabout as many complaints as a typical year of the VN at the same age

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2001 Volvo VN with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is a low number of complaints for a car on sale this long. The most reported problem area is the body & structure (1 complaint). 2 recalls cover this model year.

1complaints
2recalls
0crashes
0fires
1injuries
0deaths

Most common 2001 Volvo VN problems

  • Body & structure
    1100%

Share of the 1 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Volvo VN complaints by model year

’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’16’20’21’22’23’24’25’26995131223221532
Owner complaints per model year, Volvo VN. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best VN years: 2011, 2012, 2016. Compare all years →

2001 Volvo VN recalls (2)

Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor

NHTSA recall 04V-457 · Sep 17, 2004 · 56,154 vehicles

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.

Power train › Axle assembly

NHTSA recall 02V-036 · Feb 5, 2002 · 215 vehicles

On certain heavy duty class 8 trucks, the forward and/or rear drive axle upper axle seat can break allowing the axle to shift out of alignment.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the upper axle seat for a certain date code that is stamped on the part, and those axles will be replaced. Owner notification began March 15, 2002.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Volvo VN:

Hood strut failure

NHTSA investigation PE05058 · opened Nov 3, 2005 · closed Feb 24, 2006

Volvo reported four field reports and 62 warranty claims related to hood strut failure on the subject truck/tractors. The hood struts are a single acting oil shock that controls the rate of the opening of the hood. There are two struts attached to the hood assembly, one on each side. Odi's concern was that a failed hood strut would allow the hood to drop on one side, possibly injuring someone working on the engine.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2001 Volvo VN a good car?

Based on 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA, the 2001 VN rates few complaints: about as many complaints as a typical year of the VN 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 2001 Volvo VN?

The body & structure — 1 complaint, 100% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › hood › hinge and attachments.

How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo VN have?

There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Volvo VN, the most recent from September 17, 2004 (motor). 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.