2026 Volvo VNL (4)
Several concerns worth a close look before buying.
Cons
Official recall campaigns exist for this vehicle. See the Safety Recalls section for what failed and how it's fixed.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
At least one recall is serious enough that owners are told to park away from buildings. Treat this as urgent.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
1 of 4 owner complaints are about the power train. Tap it in the heatmap to read the real reports.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
Pros
Nothing in this category from the official data.
Neutral
The government hasn't published a crash-test rating for this exact vehicle. We won't invent one.
Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings
ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.
Safety Recalls
Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.
What is a recall, really?
A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Campaign 25V620000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2026 New VN trucks. The door latch cable on the interior door handle may be incorrectly installed, preventing the door from opening.
The danger: A door that cannot be opened from the inside may trap occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the door latch cable and pivot clip, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 11, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2508. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 25, 2025.
NHTSA Campaign 25V621000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2025-2026 New VN trucks. When towing a trailer, the trailer lights may fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module.
The danger: Trailer tail lights and turn signals that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the trailer body input/output module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2507. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 25, 2025.
NHTSA Campaign 25V757000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2026 New VN trucks. The roof center marker lights may fail to illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The danger: Marker lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the center roof marker light, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 19, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2509. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 10, 2025.
NHTSA Campaign 25V802000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2024-2026 VNL (4) vehicles. The load lock clamps, located on the back of the cab, may loosen and cause the load lock bars to become unsecured.
The danger: A loose or unsecured load lock bar can result in a loss of cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the load lock clamps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2512. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 27, 2025.
NHTSA Campaign 25V804000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2026 VNR (4) and 2024-2026 VNL (4) vehicles. The automatic high beams (AHB) may not switch to low beam headlights as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The danger: High beam headlights that do not switch to low beam as intended can reduce visibility for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: As an interim action, Volvo Trucks will update the vehicle software through an over-the-air (OTA) update to disable the AHB feature, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 1, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2511. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 19, 2025.
NHTSA Campaign 26V076000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2024-2027 VNL (4) vehicles that do not include auxiliary parking brakes. If the vehicle is in weight bias mode there may not be enough weight on the parking brake axle, which could result in inadequate parking brake force.
The danger: Inadequate parking brake force can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake chambers, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 29, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2601. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning Feb 17, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V184000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2025-2026 VNL (4) vehicles. The instrument panel may fail while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
The danger: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the instrument panel clusters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 8, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2603. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 1, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V186000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2025-2026 VNL (4) vehicles. The service brake may take longer than expected to release. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The danger: A delayed brake release can increase the risk of crash.
The fix: Dealers will install an additional brake valve and fittings to the service brake pneumatic plumbing, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed July 29, 2026.Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2602.
NHTSA Campaign 26V208000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2025-2027 VNL (4) and 2026-2027 VNR (4) vehicles. The vehicle turn signals may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The danger: Turn signals that do not function properly may fail to indicate the driver's intention to change vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the turn signal indicator software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 7, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2604. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning Feb April 8, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V260000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2026-2027 VNR (4) and 2025-2027 VNL (4) vehicles. The rear brake modulators may have unprotected electrical connectors that can short circuit and lead to a loss of the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC).
The danger: A loss of anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear brake modulator electrical connectors, install a protective cover, and replace the rear brake modulators, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 8, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2605. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 30, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V350000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2026 VAH, 2026-2027 VN, VHD, VNL (4), and 2027 VNR (4) vehicles. The wheel lug nuts may loosen and allow the wheel to detach.
The danger: Wheel detachment can cause a loss of vehicle control or create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect the wheel and hub mating surfaces, remove any masking material, and replace any worn components if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 15, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2606.Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 26V444000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2026 VOLVO VHD, VNL (4), VNR (4), VN, and VAH vehicles. The steering knuckles may have been manufactured with insufficiently tightened steering arms.
The danger: A loose steering arm can result in a loss of vehicle steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners between the steering arm and steering knuckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2607. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign 25V520000
What's wrong: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Volvo New VN trucks. The dynamic steering and oversteer guidance feature may malfunction and cause a loss of steering control.
The danger: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The oversteer guidance feature will be disabled through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2506.
Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours
Where Owners Report Problems
Where owners report the most trouble — based on 4 complaints. Tap a part to read the real reports.
Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.
Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?
Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Color = how serious (crash/fire involvement) · number = how many (share of all this car's reports). Tap any part to read real owner complaints.
Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours
Crash-Test Safety Ratings
Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.
How to read these stars
These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.
We couldn't find this vehicle in NHTSA's crash-test catalog, so we have no official star rating to show. That may mean it was never tested, or that NHTSA lists it under a different name — we won't guess either way, and we won't invent a rating. Check NHTSA's official ratings search →
Source: NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings · re-checked about every 24 hours
Fuel Economy (MPG)
Official EPA estimates — the real numbers, not the brochure.
No official EPA fuel-economy match for this exact model. Rather than show a guess, we're leaving it blank.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov · re-checked about every 24 hours