A new safety recall involving Volvo and Mack heavy-duty trucks is drawing attention not because of a broken brake component, but because of what the trucks’ software calculates while they are moving.

Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks are recalling a combined 1,242 Class 8 trucks in the United States after determining that software used in certain tanker configurations can incorrectly estimate axle loads. Under specific operating conditions, that error can reduce braking performance and increase the distance needed to stop.

The recalls were filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on September 28. The affected VINs became searchable through NHTSA on October 5, making this an important time for fleets and owner-operators to check their equipment rather than wait for a notification letter.

What went wrong with the trucks?

The issue is unusually specific.

The affected trucks are equipped with a tanker application package and can be used with smoothbore tank trailers — tanks that do not have internal baffles to restrict the movement of liquid cargo.

When a truck accelerates or brakes, liquid inside a smoothbore tank can move significantly. That movement changes how weight is distributed across the combination and makes accurate braking calculations particularly important.

According to the recall documentation, the problem originates in software that can incorrectly estimate dynamic axle loads.

That incorrect calculation can affect the trailer’s dynamic braking performance. In practical terms, the truck-trailer combination may require more distance to come to a stop than the driver expects, increasing the risk of a crash.

This distinction matters: the recall does not mean that the physical brakes on all Volvo VNL, VNR, Mack Anthem or Pioneer trucks are defective. It concerns specific vehicles equipped for tanker applications and a software calculation used under particular operating conditions.

https://t.co/nWyyj3yYdX @NHTSAgov

— Dana Guthrie (@DanaGJournalist) October 5, 2026

850 Mack trucks are included

Mack Trucks is recalling 850 Anthem and Pioneer trucks from model years 2026 and 2027.

The campaign is identified by NHTSA as 26V620, while Mack lists it internally as SC0500.

The affected population includes certain Mack Anthem AN and Pioneer PR trucks equipped with the tanker application package. Because the recall depends on vehicle configuration, drivers should not determine whether their truck is affected based solely on its model and model year.

Mack’s remedy involves installing updated software that disables the dynamic trailer braking calculations associated with the problem. The repair will be performed free of charge.

Another 392 Volvo trucks are affected

Volvo Trucks North America is recalling another 392 trucks, including certain Volvo VNL models from model years 2025 through 2027 and VNR trucks from model years 2026 and 2027.

NHTSA identifies the campaign as 26V619, while Volvo’s internal recall number is RVXX2610.

The underlying problem is essentially the same as in the Mack campaign: software can incorrectly calculate dynamic axle loads in certain tanker operations and potentially reduce braking performance.

Volvo’s remedy will also involve a software update that disables the affected dynamic calculation.

Why smoothbore tankers make this issue different

Smoothbore tank trailers are common in operations involving liquid cargo, but their behavior differs from tanks equipped with internal baffles.

Without internal structures limiting the movement of the liquid, cargo can surge forward during braking and backward during acceleration. Drivers who haul these trailers are already trained to account for that movement and allow additional space.

That makes the software issue particularly relevant.

The concern identified in the recall is not simply that the liquid moves. It is that the truck’s software may not correctly calculate the changing axle loads associated with the combination, potentially affecting how braking is managed.

For fleets hauling liquid cargo, that means the recall deserves attention even if the truck appears to operate normally and no warning light is present.

Drivers can check their VIN now

Owners do not have to wait for a letter from the manufacturer.

The affected VINs became available for lookup on October 5, according to the recall documentation. Drivers and fleet managers can enter a truck’s 17-character VIN into the official NHTSA recall lookup to determine whether an open safety recall applies to the vehicle.

Owner notification letters for both campaigns are expected to begin going out November 27, 2026.

Mack owners can also contact the manufacturer at 1-800-866-1177 and reference recall SC0500. Volvo owners can call 800-528-6586 and reference RVXX2610.

Not every VNL, VNR, Anthem or Pioneer is affected

This is an important distinction for truck owners.

The recalls do not cover every truck within the listed model years. They apply to specific VINs and configurations associated with the tanker application package.

That is why checking the VIN is more reliable than simply comparing a truck’s model and production year with a recall list.

Volvo and Mack have also issued other safety recalls involving heavy-duty trucks, including previous campaigns related to automatic high-beam systems. Those are separate issues and should not be confused with the new braking software recalls.

For carriers operating tanker fleets, the immediate step is straightforward: check each truck by VIN, determine whether campaign 26V619 or 26V620 is open, and arrange the software update if necessary.

Keeping manufacturer recalls current is part of managing a safe commercial fleet. Carriers should also periodically review their insurance coverage and make sure their policy reflects the vehicles, cargo and type of operation they actually run.