NHTSA campaign 13V497000

Fontaine Modification Recall 13V-497: Heat from Exhaust Diffuser may result in Fire

NHTSA recall 13V497000 was reported by Fontaine Modification on October 17, 2013, with 206 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Volvo VAH for model years 2011–2013. Owners were notified on February 19, 2014, per NHTSA.

Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files

Is my vehicle included?

This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 13V497000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.

To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Volvo VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign: 13V497000 (also written 13V-497 or 13V497)
Filed by: Fontaine Modification
Report received: October 17, 2013
Potentially affected: 206 vehicles (per NHTSA)
Component: Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System
Owners notified: February 19, 2014

Repair completion: 50% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.

Vehicles listed for this recall

NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 13V497000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.

Volvo

Volvo VAH
- 2011, 2012, 2013

All Volvo recalls

NHTSA's recall notice

As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 13V497000.

Defect description

Fontaine Modification (Fontaine) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volvo VAH vehicles modified with upward facing exhaust diffusers for use as auto-haulers. In the affected vehicles, heat from the exhaust may transfer to the roof of the truck cab and/or the vehicles above the cab.

Safety consequence

Excessive heat could result in a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Fontaine will notify owners and dealers will replace the diffuser with one of a different shape and design, free of charge. Owners may contact Fontaine at 1-800-366-8246.

Notes

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.

Sources

Official NHTSA notice for recall 13V497000

Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.