2016 Volvo Vah Safety Report

The 2016 Volvo VAH has a remarkably clean safety record based on NHTSA complaint data, with 0 total complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported. This indicates a very low incidence of owner-reported safety issues. However, the vehicle has been subject to two safety recalls, which are important to consider. The first recall addresses an issue with exterior lighting, specifically headlights that may provide insufficient illumination, increasing the risk of a crash. The second recall pertains to the steering system, where corrosion in the sealed drag link could accelerate wear of the ball joint, potentially leading to separation and a complete loss of steering control, a severe safety hazard. Despite the lack of owner complaints, these recalls highlight potential manufacturing defects that could compromise safety if not addressed. The headlight recall affects 2015-2016 VAH models manufactured between April 1, 2014, and August 14, 2015. The steering recall is broader, impacting 2012-2016 VAH trucks manufactured from January 31, 2011, to June 25, 2015, equipped with a sealed drag link. Owners should ensure both recall remedies have been completed. NHTSA has not provided overall, frontal, side, or rollover crash test ratings for the 2016 Volvo VAH. This is common for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, as they are not typically subjected to the same consumer-oriented crash tests as passenger cars. Therefore, direct crash performance data from NHTSA is unavailable. The safety assessment relies heavily on the absence of complaints and the proactive nature of the manufacturer and NHTSA in issuing recalls for identified defects.

Our recommendation: Given the zero owner complaints but two critical safety recalls, ensure both the headlight and steering drag link recalls have been completed by a Volvo dealer before purchase to mitigate known safety risks.