Volvo Trucks Recalls Nearly 127,000 Vehicles Due to Bendix ECU Issues

Greensboro, NC — Volvo Trucks North America has issued a recall for nearly 127,000 trucks from model years 2020 to 2025 due to issues with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECUs). This recall, prompted by a larger equipment recall from Bendix, affects the VN, VAH, VHD, and VNRE models.

Safety Systems at Risk Due to ECU Malfunction

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Bendix EC80 ECUs may fail to function correctly due to electrical noise or low signal strength on the power line carrier network. This malfunction can result in critical safety systems, such as anti-lock brakes (ABS), automatic traction control, electronic stability control, active cruise control, and collision mitigation systems, either underperforming or becoming completely disabled.

Impact on Towing Vehicles

The recall particularly affects trucks used for towing, especially those pulling multiple trailers. The Bendix ECU uses a power line carrier network to communicate between the tractor and trailer. The likelihood of a signal failure is reportedly higher in trucks towing more than one trailer, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

No Reported Crashes or Injuries

As of October 23, Volvo reported 55 warranty claims related to this issue, where the ABS light turned on, rendering the system offline without impacting other safety features. However, there have been no reported crashes or injuries tied to the faulty Bendix ECUs.

Free Repairs and Notification Timeline

To address the issue, authorized Volvo dealers will reprogram the affected ECUs at no cost to owners. Volvo Trucks plans to send out notification letters to affected vehicle owners starting on December 13. For more information, customers can contact Volvo Trucks’ customer service at 800-528-6586 and reference recall number RVXX2409. Additionally, NHTSA has assigned recall number 24V-790 for this case.

Broader Impact: Bendix Recall

This recall is part of a larger action taken by Bendix on October 11, which involves more than 400,000 ECUs sold to both Volvo Trucks and Navistar. As of October 29, Navistar has yet to issue a related recall for its affected vehicles.

Stay tuned to Freight Relocators for updates on this recall and other industry news.