2012 Volvo VN Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other VN years
- Not enough data 8th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volvo VN. That ranks 8th out of 32 VN model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is tires (2 complaints, 100%). There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 2owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Volvo VN problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 2 | 100% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2012 Volvo VN recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint; suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint
Problem: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Volvo VN trucks manufactured April 14, 2008, to December 23, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience corrosion of the ball joints due to the seals being compromised, possibly resulting in accelerated wear and failure of the ball joint.
Risk: Failure of the ball joint may cause separation of the socket and a complete loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the drag links, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Volvo issued an interim notification to owners on October 28, 2015. Replacement parts are now available. Notices to owners were mailed on March 1, 2016. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-877-800-4945 option #1. Volvo's number for the vehicle inspection is RVXX1508. Volvo's number for the replacement of drag links is RVXX1509.
Seat belts
Problem: 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."
Risk: In the event of a crash, an insufficient seat belt weld may prevent the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant. This increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Discrepancies in Required CFR Reporting (AQ18005) — opened Oct 22, 2018, closed Aug 4, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Traveling southbound on interstate 95 richmond hill ga, goodyear 11r22.5 steering tire tread separated from caisin like a recap
I was empty northbound on interstate 95 in ga, near exit 49 when tire failed virgin steering tire came apart like a recap
Other Volvo VN years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 VN | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 VN | 0 | 3 |
| 2025 VN | 0 | 8 |
| 2024 VN | 2 | 7 |
| 2023 VN | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 VN | 0 | 6 |
| 2021 VN | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 VN | 5 | 2 |
| 2019 VN | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 VN | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 VN | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 VN | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 VN | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 VN | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 VN | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 VN | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 VN | 0 | 4 |
| 2009 VN | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 VN | 2 | 2 |
| 2007 VN | 3 | 3 |
| 2006 VN | 2 | 4 |
| 2005 VN | 2 | 2 |
| 2004 VN | 1 | 4 |
| 2003 VN | 3 | 4 |
| 2002 VN | 0 | 5 |
| 2001 VN | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 VN | 5 | 2 |
| 1999 VN | 9 | 5 |
| 1998 VN | 9 | 6 |
| 1997 VN | 0 | 9 |
| 1996 VN | 2 | 1 |
See all Volvo VN problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.
Similar Volvo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volvo VN?
Owners most often report tires problems. The top one, tires, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Volvo VN?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Volvo VN a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other VN model years, the 2012 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.