"On March 21, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, on behalf of its members, filed a petition with the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requesting the DOT and NHTSA investigate defects in Volvo trucks as reported by 185 owners of more than 260 Volvo Class 8 trucks. OOIDA says the petition was filed after numerous attempts to communicate with Volvo Trucks regarding the problems failed to yield results.

The petition presents evidence that Volvo heavy-duty trucks manufactured between 1989 and 2000 may contain defects that pose the potential for loss of life and serious injury. OOIDA has collected complaints and evaluated evidence since 1999. Federal regulations require NHTSA to grant or deny petitions such as OOIDA's within 120 days.

The vast majority of complaints concerned the front end of the truck. Sixty-seven complaints reported the incidence of severe vibration, shaking and noise centered in the front of the truck. Seventeen complaints reported trouble steering and controlling the truck. Several Volvo owners have discovered that their truck is overweight on the steering axle, even when not hitched to a loaded trailer.

Many other problems were reported that may be caused by the truck's shaking and vibrating. These include various parts wearing out prematurely, various parts failing and falling off the truck, and the electrical system malfunctioning. With regard to the truck's body, windows have blown out, and doors and hoods have failed to shut properly. With one driver, a steering wheel fell off while at a loading dock. Whether these truck components may be defective themselves, or their failure may be a result of a chain reaction derived from a larger problem is one of the questions OOIDA asks NHTSA to investigate.

Some Volvo owners reported only their mechanical problems; others described incidents in the operation of their truck that created hazardous conditions on the road or highway. In the petition, OOIDA excerpts comments made by Volvo mechanics and dealers to Volvo owners. These comments demonstrate that the problems reported are not isolated incidents but have been experienced by other Volvo owners. " http://www.ooida.com/at_issue/misc/volvo_waiting.htm