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Volvo steering recalls: loose fasteners on trucks, locked steering on cars
Four of these six Volvo recalls come down to the same thing — steering fasteners that were not tightened properly during assembly. Steering gear bolts appear twice, first on 2020-2021 VNL and VNR trucks and again on 2023-2024 VN, VHD and VAH. On 2021 VNL, VHD and VNR, the king pin nut may never have been installed or torqued. On 2026 VAH, VN and VHD plus 2026-2027 VNL (4) and VNR (4), the steering arm to steering knuckle fasteners may be loose. The two outliers are a car and a software fault: on 2019-2022 V60 Cross Country, XC60 and XC90, a double-assembled screw can fall into the steering gearbox and seize the steering, and on 2025-2026 New VN trucks the dynamic steering and oversteer guidance feature can malfunction.
Warning signs to watch for
- Play, looseness or a clunk in the steering when turning or crossing a bump
- Steering that suddenly stiffens or locks up, from the screw dropped into the car gearbox
- Unusual noise or movement at the front axle where the king pin nut sits
- Unexpected steering behavior from the dynamic steering and oversteer guidance feature
- Several of these notices describe failures that can happen with no warning at all
Is it safe to keep driving?
No notice in this group orders the vehicle parked. The language is still urgent: for the loose steering gear fasteners and the missing king pin nut, the front end can come apart with little warning, so have them checked before further use if you can, and the same applies to the 2026 steering arm fasteners. The 2019-2022 car gearbox screw can seize the steering, so book it as soon as a dealer can take the car. On the New VN trucks, drive carefully until the update goes in.
What the free repair involves
Every repair here is free. For the fastener recalls, dealers tighten the steering gear fasteners to specification, confirm the king pin nut is installed and properly tightened, and inspect and tighten the steering arm to knuckle fasteners as necessary. On the affected cars, the steering gear is replaced outright. On 2025-2026 New VN trucks, oversteer guidance is disabled by an over-the-air update or at a dealer.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 4 |
| high | 2 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-09 | Volvo VNL and related trucks may have loose steering bolts | high |
| 2025-08-11 | Volvo VNL trucks can lose steering control suddenly | critical |
| 2023-06-23 | Volvo heavy trucks may have loose steering gear bolts | high |
| 2023-01-05 | Volvo steering gear screw can lock the steering wheel | critical |
| 2020-09-02 | Volvo trucks may have loose or missing front axle nut | critical |
| 2020-04-29 | Volvo VNR truck steering bolts may be loose | critical |
Common questions
Which of these recalls affects Volvo cars rather than trucks?
Only one: the 2019-2022 V60 Cross Country, XC60 and XC90 recall, where double screws assembled on top of each other can let a screw fall into the gearbox housing. Dealers replace the steering gear free of charge.
Why do loose steering fasteners keep coming back?
The notices do not give a shared cause. They describe separate assembly problems years apart — steering gear fasteners in 2020 and again in 2023, a king pin nut in 2021, and steering arm to knuckle fasteners on 2026 trucks.
Can the oversteer guidance fix be done without a dealer visit?
Yes. Volvo says the oversteer guidance feature is disabled through an over-the-air update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 22, 2025, and Volvo Trucks customer service can confirm whether your truck is included.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.