NHTSA Complaint #10167690 — 2006 VOLVO VNL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRACTOR TRAILER'S STEERING SYSTEM PULLED TO EITHER SIDE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MANY DIFFERENT STATES WHO DETERMINED ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT FOR HEAVY TRUCK ALIGNMENT SO IT HAD BEEN REFERRED TO OTHER COMPANIES WITH THE SPECIALIZED ALIGNMENT EQUIPMENT. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR ALIGNMENT NINE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ALSO, THE TREAD LOCATED IN MIDDLE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ALIGNMENT AS THE SOURCE OF THIS IRREGULAR WEAR. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS ON THE SEMI REAR AXLE, WHICH WAS NOT PARALLEL TO THE MIDDLE AXLE CREATING IRREGULAR ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT OF THE TRAILER, WHICH ENTAILED A SERIOUS RISK TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE INNER TIRE OF THE REAR AXLE WORE EXCESSIVELY INDICATING STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE AXLE MOUNTING.