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Volvo truck power train recalls: unwanted movement, neutral shifts, air tank straps
All three power train recalls are Volvo Trucks campaigns, all rated high severity, and VNL tractors appear in every one. Two are transmission faults. On 2018-2019 VNL trucks with an automated manual transmission, an internal component in the clutch assembly can fail and cause unintended vehicle movement. On 2022 VNL trucks, electronic control unit software can let the transmission shift into neutral unexpectedly, taking away drive power. Both were addressed by reprogramming rather than hardware. The third recall is mechanical and reaches wider across the lineup: on 2019-2020 VAH, VHD, VNL and VNR trucks, over-tightened t-bolt clasps on the transmission auxiliary air tank straps can deform the strap where the t-bolt is anchored, so the tank may come loose.
Warning signs to watch for
- The truck creeps or moves when you did not ask it to, especially with the automated manual transmission
- The transmission drops into neutral on its own and drive power disappears
- Unusual clutch behavior or rough engagement on 2018-2019 VNL automated manuals
- A deformed, bent or loose strap or clasp around the transmission auxiliary air tank
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall here orders the truck parked, and none calls for parking outside, but all three are rated high severity and should be booked quickly. Unintended movement can injure someone standing nearby, so be careful around the truck when it is running. Losing drive power without warning when the transmission slips into neutral is a crash risk, so get the reprogramming done as soon as a dealer can take it. For the air tank straps, Volvo did not tell owners to stop driving, but a tank dropping into traffic is serious — have the inspection done promptly.
What the free repair involves
Two of the three are reprogramming jobs: dealers update the Transmission Control Module software on the 2018-2019 VNL clutch recall, and reprogram the electronic control module on the 2022 VNL neutral-shift recall. For the air tank recall, dealers inspect the transmission auxiliary air tank strap and replace it if necessary. All three repairs are free of charge. Volvo Trucks customer service is 1-800-528-6586.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-06 | Volvo VNL trucks may shift into neutral unexpectedly | high |
| 2019-07-02 | Volvo VNL trucks: air tank strap bolts may loosen | high |
| 2019-01-14 | Volvo VNL trucks may move without driver input | high |
Common questions
Does this apply to every 2018-2019 VNL?
No. The unintended movement recall covers certain 2018-2019 VNL vehicles equipped with an automated manual transmission, where an internal clutch assembly component may fail. Trucks without that transmission are not part of that campaign.
What does the unexpected neutral shift feel like?
On certain 2022 VNL trucks, electronic control unit software may let the transmission shift into neutral unexpectedly, so drive power goes away without warning. Dealers reprogram the electronic control module free of charge; owner letters were mailed November 1, 2021.
Will my air tank strap automatically be replaced?
Not necessarily. Dealers inspect the transmission auxiliary air tank strap and replace it only if needed, since the issue is over-tightened t-bolt clasps deforming the strap at the anchor point. Either way the work is free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.