2012 VOLVO VNM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 VNM trucks manufactured March 21, 2011, to April 30, 2015. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

Risk: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

SERVICE BRAKES

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 VNL and VNM trucks manufactured May 31, 2011, to December 1, 2014. In the affected trucks, the trailer hand brake handle may not to return to the off position due to being restricted by the cut out in the trim panel.

Risk: If the brake handle does return to the off position, the trailer service brakes may drag causing the wheel end to overheat and potentially cause a wheel end fire or tire blowout. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 VNL and VNM trucks manufactured June 21, 2010, to December 14, 2012. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage.

Risk: If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 VAH, VHD, VNL, VNM, and VT models. The affected vehicles were built without a redundant clutch disengagement switch. Without a redundant switch, a loss of signal from the brake air pressure switch can prevent the clutch from automatically disengaging when the brake is applied.

Risk: Without a signal to disengage the clutch when the brakes are applied, the distance required to stop the truck may lengthen, increasing the risk of a crash.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Volvo is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 VHD, VNL, and VNM trucks, manufactured from April 18, 2011, through March 14, 2013, and equipped with a horizontally mounted remote battery disconnect switch. The remote battery disconnect switch was manufactured with incorrect hardware allowing the cables to loosen. Additionally, as mounted, the cables may vibrate and chafe.

Risk: Loose or chafed cables may lead to overheating of the battery cable and switch which may result in a fire.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 VAH, VHD, VNL, and VNM trucks manufactured February 1, 2010, through September 30, 2010 and June 1, 2011, through November 30, 2011. The windshield wiper motor may fail.

Risk: Inoperable wipers may result in poor driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 VHD AND MODEL YEAR 2011-2013 VNL AND VNM VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 2, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2012, AND EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX ATR-6 TRACTION RELAY VALVES. IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS, THESE BENDIX RELAY VALVES MAY POTENTIALLY DEVELOP INTERNAL LEAKAGE. INTERNAL LEAKAGE CAN LEAD TO AIR PRESSURE BEING DELIVERED TO AFFECTED PRIMARY OR SECONDARY BRAKE CAUSING CONTINUOUS BRAKE APPLICATION.

Risk: INADVERTENT BRAKE APPLICATION CAN CAUSE THE BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND LEAD TO A FIRE. INADVERTENT BRAKE APPLICATION CAN CAUSE THE WHEELS TO LOCK-UP LEADING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 VNL AND VNM TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2011. DURING THE COUPLING PROCESS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO PARTIALLY CLOSE THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK AND IF SOLELY RELYING ON A TUG TEST (PULL TEST), THE DRIVER MAY THINK THAT THE FIFTH WHEEL LOCK IS PROPERLY COUPLED TO THE TRAILER KING PIN WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT PROPERLY COUPLED.

Risk: IF THE DRIVER DRIVES AWAY WITH A TRAILER THAT IS NOT PROPERLY COUPLED, THE TRAILER CAN COME LOOSE AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

VOLVO TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 VHD, VNL, AND VNM TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A MERITOR DRIVELINE. THE TUBING USED TO ASSEMBLE THE DRIVELINES HAS A NONCONFORMING SEAM WELD WITH INSUFFICIENT BONDING OF THE MATERIAL.

Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN SEAM WELD FRACTURE WHEN TORQUE IS APPLIED. ONCE THE TUBE SEAM WELD IS FRACTURED, THE DRIVELINE MAY BECOME INOPERABLE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A DISABLED VEHICLE OR DEBRIS FROM THE DRIVELINE FALLING ONTO THE ROADWAY, BOTH OF WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.