The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has filed a petition with the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, asking the DOT and NHTSA to investigate alleged defects in Volvo trucks reported to the association by its members.

In mid-1999, OOIDA received a telephone call from a member complaining of serious problems with front-end vibration, premature steer tire wear and shearing suspension bolts. Within a few weeks, OOIDA received four more complaints from owner-operators regarding Volvo trucks. OOIDA decided to query Volvo owners in the OOIDA member database. Eventually OOIDA received 185 written complaints involving 260 Volvo trucks.
The vast majority of complaints concerned the front end of the truck, including severe vibration, shaking and noise; trouble steering and controlling the truck, premature wear on steer tires; other parts wearing out prematurely; parts failing and falling off the truck; and the electrical system malfunctioning.
Several Volvo owners told OOIDA that their truck is overweight on the steering axle, even when not hitched to a loaded trailer.
The day after the petition was filed, Volvo reportedly issued a recall related to the OOIDA complaints. Reuters reported yesterday that Volvo has recalled 1,577 trucks built between November 1997 and August 1999 that were shipped with inaccurate front axle weight ratings. The company said problem was caused by incorrect tire rating information used to calculate the weight ratings. Volvo dealers will replace the weight certification label with a correct one; replace front axle tires, rims or tie rod tubes; or replace and relocate fuel tanks.
"These reports of serious problems with Volvo trucks more than form a sufficient basis for the initiation of a NHTSA safety defect investigation," says Jim Johnston, president of OOIDA. "The hazardous situations reported to OOIDA by Volvo owners demonstrate a serious risk of injury and death to not only truck drivers, but to anyone walking, riding or driving on the highway."
Federal regulations require NHTSA to grant or deny such petitions within 120 days.
Volvo officials were not immediately available for comment Tuesday.