2011 VOLVO OWNER/DRIVERS READ THIS: Sudden random uncontrolled braking issue in cold

All owners/drivers of new Volvo tractors with D-13 and Ishift or 13 speed need to be aware of a problem that has come to light in the last few weeks. Here in Canada it's recently gotten very cold, and these trucks are showing brake problems in the drive wheel areas.

The brakes suddenly partially apply at random times, hard enough to stop the truck with load, possibly enough to spin out a bobtail. Trucks showing beginning symptoms feel like the engine cuts out for a split second, or that the Jake brake comes on for a split second. Over time the events get longer in duration and more frequent. THE DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THIS SITUATION. One tractor in our company's fleet had soft brake application enough to catch fire when wheel seal let go due to heat. Driver had i-shift equipped truck, d-13 engine was apparently using cruise control truck fed more and more throttle as brakes dragged, driver noticed nothing so smooth was the entire event. It is believed this is a problem with the TCS system but VOLVO HAS NO FIX FOR THIS AT PRESENT.

Once pulled to side of road, brakes remain applied on rear wheelsets sufficient to prevent truck moving, then release within one minute. On our truck we could maintain 30 mile an hour limp home speed. Any faster and the brakes would apply sharply at random intervals, forcing us to the side of the road. Braking events were sufficient to cause brake smoke at times.

Naturally this is dangerous. In winter these random braking events could cause jacknifing. Drivers could be blamed for accidents over which they have no control.

There are at least 15 tractors at Volvo Calgary Alberta, waiting for a fix, 6 or 7 in Winnipeg Manitoba. Volvo North America is working on the problem apparently, and initial reports point to an air valve in the braking system filling with water and then freezing. At this moment there is no official fix for this problem.

We are currently siting in a hotel in Calgary waiting for a fix for our 780, d-13 and 13 speed. our fleet manager says we are the first 13 speed truck to have this problem, apparently it is much more common on the I-shift models. Anecdotal comments at the dealership, were to the effect that there are trucks in some yards that cannot be moved dure to stuck brakes, and that one dealer tapped the frame with a hammer and the brakes applied.

IF YOU OWN OR DRIVE A 2011 VOLVO TRACTOR WITH I-SHIFT OR 13 SPEED YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR DISPATCH OR DEALER TO BEGIN LOOKING INTO THIS, BEFORE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.