2021 Volvo Vah Service Brakes, Air Recall (20V536)
Volvo Trucks North America · 11,127 vehicles · Reported September 2, 2020
Volvo Trucks North America is recalling 11,127 2021 Volvo Vah; 2021 Volvo Vhd; 2021 Volvo Vnl; 2021 Volvo Vnr vehicles. The die cast pedal plate may break at one of its attachment points, possibly resulting in the brake pedal dislodging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems." A dislodged brake pedal would be inoperable, increasing a risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V536 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V536000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | RVXX2004 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 2, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Volvo Trucks North America |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volvo Vah; 2021 Volvo Vhd; 2021 Volvo Vnl; 2021 Volvo Vnr |
| Units affected | 11,127 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Air |
| Safety risk | A dislodged brake pedal would be inoperable, increasing a risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volvo Vah in recall 20V536?
The die cast pedal plate may break at one of its attachment points, possibly resulting in the brake pedal dislodging.
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2021 VAH, VHD, VNL and VNR vehicles. The die cast pedal plate may break at one of its attachment points, possibly resulting in the brake pedal dislodging. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
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 Vah with recall 20V536?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A dislodged brake pedal would be inoperable, increasing a risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A dislodged brake pedal would be inoperable, increasing a 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 service brakes, air.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V536?
Recall 20V536 covers 11,127 vehicles: 2021 Volvo Vah; 2021 Volvo Vhd; 2021 Volvo Vnl; 2021 Volvo Vnr.
NHTSA lists 11,127 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volvo | Vah |
| 2021 | Volvo | Vhd |
| 2021 | Volvo | Vnl |
| 2021 | Volvo | Vnr |
What is the fix for the Vah service brakes, air recall?
Yes. Volvo Trucks will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the pedal plates if required, free of charge.
Volvo Trucks will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the pedal plates if required, free of charge. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Truck's number for this recall is RVXX2004.
When was recall 20V536 announced?
Volvo Trucks North America reported recall 20V536 to NHTSA on September 2, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 2, 2020 | Volvo Trucks North America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V536000. |
This recall was filed 74 months ago. If your Vah was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Vah is part of recall 20V536?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V536 is open on your Vah, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 20V536000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Vah owners do about recall 20V536?
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 20V536000 applies to your Vah.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any service brakes, air symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Vah owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the brakes.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the brakes have been filed since recall 20V536 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 brakes. 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 brakes
- 2021 Volvo Vah: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
- 2021 Volvo Vhd: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
- 2021 Volvo Vnl: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
Can recall 20V536 make my Vah 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.
Recall 20V536000 does not automatically make your Vah a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
If the 2021 Volvo Vah brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
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 Vah been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volvo Vah recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V536
Is the 20V536000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Vah is part of recall 20V536000?
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 20V536000 (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.