diff --git a/pkg/collector/container.go b/pkg/collector/container.go
index 0428243088..6db2e3aed1 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/container.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/container.go
@@ -76,11 +76,6 @@ func Container(cfg config.Config, logger logr.Logger, otelcol v1alpha1.OpenTelem
 
 	if len(otelcol.Spec.VolumeMounts) > 0 {
 		volumeMounts = append(volumeMounts, otelcol.Spec.VolumeMounts...)
-	} else if otelcol.Spec.Mode == "statefulset" {
-		volumeMounts = append(volumeMounts, corev1.VolumeMount{
-			Name:      "default-volume",
-			MountPath: "/usr/share/default-volume",
-		})
 	}
 
 	var envVars = otelcol.Spec.Env
diff --git a/pkg/collector/volumeclaim.go b/pkg/collector/volumeclaim.go
index b35d830b0f..c249e5813c 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/volumeclaim.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/volumeclaim.go
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ package collector
 
 import (
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/resource"
-	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/apis/v1alpha1"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/internal/config"
@@ -35,22 +33,8 @@ func VolumeClaimTemplates(cfg config.Config, otelcol v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryColle
 	}
 
 	// Add all user specified claims or use default.
-	if len(otelcol.Spec.VolumeClaimTemplates) > 0 {
-		volumeClaimTemplates = append(volumeClaimTemplates,
-			otelcol.Spec.VolumeClaimTemplates...)
-	} else {
-		volumeClaimTemplates = []corev1.PersistentVolumeClaim{{
-			ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-				Name: "default-volume",
-			},
-			Spec: corev1.PersistentVolumeClaimSpec{
-				AccessModes: []corev1.PersistentVolumeAccessMode{"ReadWriteOnce"},
-				Resources: corev1.ResourceRequirements{
-					Requests: corev1.ResourceList{"storage": resource.MustParse("50Mi")},
-				},
-			},
-		}}
-	}
+	volumeClaimTemplates = append(volumeClaimTemplates,
+		otelcol.Spec.VolumeClaimTemplates...)
 
 	return volumeClaimTemplates
 }
diff --git a/pkg/collector/volumeclaim_test.go b/pkg/collector/volumeclaim_test.go
index 360ba906cc..7cf47c42b2 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/volumeclaim_test.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/volumeclaim_test.go
@@ -27,31 +27,6 @@ import (
 	. "github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-operator/pkg/collector"
 )
 
-func TestVolumeClaimNewDefault(t *testing.T) {
-	// prepare
-	otelcol := v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector{
-		Spec: v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollectorSpec{
-			Mode: "statefulset",
-		},
-	}
-	cfg := config.New()
-
-	// test
-	volumeClaims := VolumeClaimTemplates(cfg, otelcol)
-
-	// verify
-	assert.Len(t, volumeClaims, 1)
-
-	// check that it's the initial-volume
-	assert.Equal(t, "default-volume", volumeClaims[0].Name)
-
-	// check the access mode is correct
-	assert.Equal(t, corev1.PersistentVolumeAccessMode("ReadWriteOnce"), volumeClaims[0].Spec.AccessModes[0])
-
-	//check the storage is correct
-	assert.Equal(t, resource.MustParse("50Mi"), volumeClaims[0].Spec.Resources.Requests["storage"])
-}
-
 func TestVolumeClaimAllowsUserToAdd(t *testing.T) {
 	// prepare
 	otelcol := v1alpha1.OpenTelemetryCollector{