Jan. 10, 2017 – Greensboro, N.C. – Volvo Trucks North America has announced a safety recall of numerous vehicle models due to overloaded wheel hubs that threaten to cause control losses and crashes.
The Defect
Volvo will recall model year 2017 VHD, VNL and VNM buses manufactured between Feb. 19, 2016 and June 21, 2016, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The front hubs on these vehicles do not support the gross axle rating of the front axles. The company revealed that hubs rated for 13,200 pounds were used along with axles rated for 14,600 pounds.
The problem is that this defect could cause hubs to fail prematurely due to the weight. If front hubs separate from front axles, drivers could quickly lose control and potentially face injury or death. Volvo views this recall as a proactive measure, as no incidents of hub failure have been reported as yet.
Timeline of Events
- Sept. 15, 2016 – Volvo noticed that there may have been an error with hub rating identification.
- Oct. 12, 2016 – The Volvo Product Safety Working Group opened an investigation into the issue.
- Nov. 21, 2016 – Following this preliminary investigation, the issue was elevated to the Product Safety Committee for further consideration.
- Dec. 13, 2016 – Volvo determined that the issue was indeed a serious safety defect.
- Dec. 20, 2016 – Volvo notified the NHTSA of its intention to conduct a safety recall.
Resolution
Volvo will replace the hubs with those that are properly rated for the weight they need to bear. This will be done free of charge. The recall will begin in February 2017.
