2020 Volvo Bus 9700 problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2009-2025 Volvo 9700 buses. The emergency exit label on the entrance door is missing the exit operating instructions. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Risk: The missing information may prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Prevost will replace the emergency exit identification labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 3, 2026. Owners may contact Prevost's customer service at 1-866-870-2046. Prevost's number for this recall is SR26-84. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 25, 2026.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2013-2021 9700 buses. The red beacon lighting on the Threshold Warning System (TWS) may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."

Risk: Beacons that do not provide proper illumination may be less visible to wheelchair lift users, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Prevost will replace the red beacons, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Bus customer service at 1-866-870-2043. Volvo Bus number for this recall is SR24-81.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2020 Volvo 9700 DOT vehicles. In the event of the alternator front bearing seizing, the alternator belt may continue to operate, causing the bearing to overheat.

Risk: An overheated alternator bearing can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Volvo Bus will replace the alternator belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters September 30, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Bus customer service at 1-866-870-2046.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2008-2021 9700 vehicles. The headlights may not have the correct amount of light output, and either be too bright, or too dim. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Excessively bright or dim headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace of the headlight assembly or the bulbs, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed September 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Bus' customer service at 1-866-870-2046.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2009-2021 Volvo 9700 vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts. When the lift's outer barrier is fully deployed, it may not withstand a sufficient amount of force, which could cause it to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 403, "Platform Lift Systems" and 404, "Platform Lift Installations."

Risk: In the event that a mobility device pushes into the outer barrier, the barrier may fail, increasing the risk of injury for the lift occupant.

Fix: Volvo Bus will reinforce the outer barrier with additional supports, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 28, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Bus customer service at 1-866-870-2046.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2015-2020 9700 buses. The transmission C1 hub may fail which may lead to a disabled vehicle.

Risk: A disabled bus may require passengers to transfer to a different bus on the side of the road, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Volvo Bus will notify owners, and dealers will update the Transmission Control Module (TCM) calibration software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Bus customer service at 1-866-870-2046.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2020 9700 buses. The driver may be able to start the bus even if the starter disabling switch in the engine compartment has been activated, such as during servicing.

Risk: An engine that can be started while being worked on increases the risk of injury to the service technician.

Fix: Volvo Bus will notify owners, and will provide a service document describing how to connect and upload the new engine software, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo Bus customer service at 1-800-463-7738. Volvo Bus's number for this recall is SR20-87.

Defect: Volvo Bus Corporation (Volvo Bus) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Volvo 9700 vehicles. The passenger seat belt attachments may not be sufficient to anchor the seat belts and restrain the seat occupants in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Risk: In the event of a crash, a passenger that does not remain properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Volvo Bus will notify owners, and dealers will add reinforcement to the passenger seats, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Volvo Bus customer service at 1-866-870-2046.