Volvo Trucks says it welcomes an investigation by federal safety officials over alleged safety defects of its trucks.
On Friday the company released a statement in response to an investigation begun by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
in response to a petition submitted last year by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association alleging mechanical problems with more than 500 Volvo trucks. The statement was released the day after OOIDA announced the investigation was under way.
“Safety has always been a core value of Volvo Trucks North America, and evidence of this commitment to safety can be seen in myriad ways to those knowledgeable about commercial vehicles,” read the statement, with the company citing as examples its industry-leading use of air bags and its high-strength-steel cabs.
“NHTSA routinely considers such petitions regardless of merit. While Volvo Trucks believes the petition is without merit, the company will continue to work with NHTSA and comply with all of their requests.”
Volvo Trucks says it is anxious for NHTSA to publish its findings on the subject. They advise “if any Volvo owner believes there is a problem with a vehicle, they are encouraged to contact a credible source for complete information on the subject. A network of authorized Volvo Trucks dealers is ready to assist Volvo Truck owners. “
According to OOIDA, the investigations focus on steering problems, front U-bolt problems and sleeper berth fires. These investigations join an ongoing NHTSA inquiry of rear U-bolt problems in Volvo trucks.
If, after investigating, NHTSA believes a vehicle defect exists, it has the power to pursue a vehicle recall and/or the manufacturer's remedy of that defect.