IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CONSUMER SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT SMELL. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE SLEEPER BIRTH AREA, THEN THE CABIN WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. *NLM
1998 Volvo VN770
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all VN770 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
26 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CONSUMER SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT SMELL. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE SLEEPER BIRTH AREA, THEN THE CABIN WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. *NLM WHILE DRIVING SOUTHB…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CONSUMER SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT SMELL. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE SLEEPER BIRTH AREA, THEN THE CABIN WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. *NLM WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON 195 1998 VOLVO VN770 HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT CAB. FIRE WAS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE BUILT IN REFRIGERATOR FREEZER. TRUCK WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.*MR
THE WHEEL BEARING, AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN SLEEPER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE FUEL TANK BAFFLE WAS LOOSE.*JB
PER CONSUMER THE DEALERSHIP ACTION PONTIAC, GMC, VOLVO; DOTHAN AL; 334-794-8505,. IS REFUSING TO HONOR THEIR RECALL FOR VEHICLES' TIRE AND RIM NO RVXX02. TS
CONSUMER STATES IF THE VEHICLE HAS 100 GALLONS OF FUEL OR NO FUEL, THE VEHICLE IS STILL OVER WEIGHT.*JB
CONSUMER STATED THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE.*JB
VEHICLE IS OVERWEIGHT. *JG
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PLASTIC CLIPS FROM THE SLEEPER WINDOW BROKE AND HAS HAD ONE WINDOW COMPLETELY FALL OFF. *TT
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MANAGEMENT DEVICE DOES NOT WORK, THE DISPLAY IS NON FUNCTIONAL.*JB
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH WIRING HARNESS. *SLC
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA04016 · Steering Binding
Opened Jun 24, 2004 · Closed Mar 31, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column
ODI'S INVESTIGATIONCONCLUDED THAT THE LEGS THAT RETAIN THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), PART NUMBER 1607363, TO THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED IN MODEL YEAR 1998 - 1999 VN AND VHD SERIES VTNA (VOLVO TRUCK NORTH AMERICA) VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING.WHEN THE RETENTION LEGS BREAK, THE SEPARATED PIECES OF THE TSCR TYPICALLYREPOSE IN THE HOST CAVITY IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB WHERE THEY WERE DEPOSITED.ODIFOUND THAT BROKEN PIECES OF THE TSCR EITHER (1) MIGRATED FROM THEIR HOST CAVITY AND DROPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR (2) LODGED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL PROXIMATE TO THE TSCR.ODI SIMULATED VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND POSITIONS THAT A SEPARATED PIECE OF THE TSCR MIGHT BECOME LODGED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BUT NONE OF THESE SIMULATIONS GENERATED ANY APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering:column
ODI'S INVESTIGATIONCONCLUDED THAT THE LEGS THAT RETAIN THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), PART NUMBER 1607363, TO THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED IN MODEL YEAR 1998 - 1999 VN AND VHD SERIES VTNA (VOLVO TRUCK NORTH AMERICA) VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING.WHEN THE RETENTION LEGS BREAK, THE SEPARATED PIECES OF THE TSCR TYPICALLYREPOSE IN THE HOST CAVITY IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB WHERE THEY WERE DEPOSITED.ODIFOUND THAT BROKEN PIECES OF THE TSCR EITHER (1) MIGRATED FROM THEIR HOST CAVITY AND DROPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR (2) LODGED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL PROXIMATE TO THE TSCR.ODI SIMULATED VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND POSITIONS THAT A SEPARATED PIECE OF THE TSCR MIGHT BECOME LODGED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BUT NONE OF THESE SIMULATIONS GENERATED ANY APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.
Steering
ODI'S INVESTIGATIONCONCLUDED THAT THE LEGS THAT RETAIN THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), PART NUMBER 1607363, TO THE STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED IN MODEL YEAR 1998 - 1999 VN AND VHD SERIES VTNA (VOLVO TRUCK NORTH AMERICA) VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING.WHEN THE RETENTION LEGS BREAK, THE SEPARATED PIECES OF THE TSCR TYPICALLYREPOSE IN THE HOST CAVITY IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB WHERE THEY WERE DEPOSITED.ODIFOUND THAT BROKEN PIECES OF THE TSCR EITHER (1) MIGRATED FROM THEIR HOST CAVITY AND DROPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR (2) LODGED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL PROXIMATE TO THE TSCR.ODI SIMULATED VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND POSITIONS THAT A SEPARATED PIECE OF THE TSCR MIGHT BECOME LODGED WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, BUT NONE OF THESE SIMULATIONS GENERATED ANY APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.
PE04014 · Steering Binding
Opened Feb 5, 2004 · Closed Jun 24, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
ODI'S PRELIMINARY EVALUATION FOCUSED ON THE POTENTIAL FOR A BROKEN, BENT, DEFORMED, FRAGMENTED OR DISPLACED TURN SIGNAL CANCELING RING (TSCR), VTNA PART NUMBER 1607363, TO RESTRICT THEVEHICLE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.THE PE IDENTIFIED THIRTEEN VTNA WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT ALLEGE THAT THE TSCR HAD FAILED AND THAT THE VEHICLE STEERING EFFORT HAD BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED.TO DATE, ODI HAS NOT FOUND ANY SAMPLES OF A FAILED TSCR AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY ESTABLISH WHETHER A FAILED TSCR CAN OR CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.ODI BELIEVES THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO CONDUCT FURTHER INVESTIGATION(EA LEVEL) TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TSCR FAILURES AND TO ASSESS THE EFFECT, IF ANY, THAT THESE TYPES OF FAILURES COULD HAVE ON VEHICLE STEERING EFFORT.