2021 Volvo Vnl Steering Recall (20V241)
Volvo Trucks North America · 23 vehicles · Reported April 29, 2020
Volvo Trucks North America is recalling 23 2021 Volvo Vnl; 2021 Volvo Vnr vehicles. The steering gear fasteners may have not been properly tightened. The loose fasteners may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V241 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V241000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | RVXX2001 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 29, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Volvo Trucks North America |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volvo Vnl; 2021 Volvo Vnr |
| Units affected | 23 |
| Component | Steering |
| Safety risk | The loose fasteners may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volvo Vnl in recall 20V241?
The steering gear fasteners may have not been properly tightened.
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2021 VNL and VNR trucks. The steering gear fasteners may have not been properly tightened.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Vnl with recall 20V241?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: The loose fasteners may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: The loose fasteners may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the steering.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V241?
Recall 20V241 covers 23 vehicles: 2021 Volvo Vnl; 2021 Volvo Vnr.
NHTSA lists 23 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volvo | Vnl |
| 2021 | Volvo | Vnr |
What is the fix for the Vnl steering recall?
Yes. Volvo Trucks will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the steering gear fasteners to specification, free of charge.
Volvo Trucks will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the steering gear fasteners to specification, free of charge. The recall began May 20, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2001.
When was recall 20V241 announced?
Volvo Trucks North America reported recall 20V241 to NHTSA on April 29, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 29, 2020 | Volvo Trucks North America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V241000. |
This recall was filed 78 months ago. If your Vnl was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Vnl is part of recall 20V241?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V241 is open on your Vnl, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Vnl vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Vnl owners do about recall 20V241?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V241000 applies to your Vnl.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Volvo dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the steering happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Vnl owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the steering.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the steering have been filed since recall 20V241 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the steering. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Volvo Vnr: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the steering
- 2021 Volvo Vnl: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the steering
Can recall 20V241 make my Vnl a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this steering recall means their Vnl qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Steering defects go straight to safety. Under California's lemon law, a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create a presumption after just two repair attempts, if the manufacturer was also notified directly.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Vnl been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volvo Vnl recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V241
Is the 20V241000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Vnl is part of recall 20V241000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V241000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Volvo. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.