By year
Owner complaints about Kenworth vehicles peaked at 25 in 2008
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 1995 to 2026. 2026 runs through October.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints and recalls files. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Make
Kenworth
The complete NHTSA record for Kenworth vehicles: owner complaints, recall campaigns, defect investigations and manufacturer communications, for every model and model year on file.
Most Kenworth recalls are filed by Paccar, part of PACCAR.
Owner complaints in the last five years56286 on file in all, across 58 models
Recall campaigns32739 in five years
Severity index23.4Crash, fire, injury or death per 100 complaints
Investigations12670 service bulletins
Components
Brakes draws the most owner complaints about Kenworth vehicles, 16% of them
Share of all owner complaints on file, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI.
Models
The T680 has the most complaints of any Kenworth model
Every Kenworth model with complaints or recalls on file, by complaints. Counts are not rates: NHTSA publishes no sales volumes.
| Model | Model years | Complaints | Severity index | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T680 | 2011 to 2027 | 77 | 18.2 | 147 | 5 |
| T2000 | 1995 to 2012 | 38 | 2.6 | 106 | 4 |
| T800 | 1986 to 2025 | 33 | 39.4 | 318 | 9 |
| W900 | 1982 to 2025 | 32 | 18.8 | 253 | 7 |
| Kenworth | 1980 to 2003 | 22 | 45.5 | 30 | 14 |
| T600 | 1990 to 2025 | 16 | 18.8 | 114 | 11 |
| T880 | 2011 to 2027 | 10 | 30.0 | 141 | 0 |
| Conventional | 1993 to 2003 | 10 | 40.0 | 1 | 0 |
| T660 | 2002 to 2020 | 7 | 28.6 | 137 | 5 |
| T300 | 1995 to 2011 | 7 | 14.3 | 54 | 3 |
| C500 | 1980 to 2025 | 5 | 40.0 | 121 | 1 |
| W900L | 1990 to 1999 | 5 | 0.0 | 6 | 0 |
| T370 | 1999 to 2023 | 3 | 33.3 | 82 | 0 |
| T700 | 2007 to 2014 | 3 | 33.3 | 20 | 1 |
| Conventional Series | 1983 to 2000 | 3 | 33.3 | 6 | 0 |
| T270 | 2007 to 2023 | 2 | 50.0 | 59 | 0 |
| T380 | 2018 to 2027 | 2 | 50.0 | 46 | 0 |
| W900B | 1982 to 2025 | 2 | 0.0 | 25 | 0 |
| T800B | 1995 to 2025 | 2 | 100.0 | 17 | 0 |
| T440 | 2010 to 2023 | 1 | 0.0 | 73 | 3 |
| T280 | 2021 to 2027 | 1 | 0.0 | 44 | 0 |
| K100 | 1980 to 2004 | 1 | 0.0 | 23 | 3 |
| T170 | 2007 to 2023 | 1 | 0.0 | 23 | 3 |
| T600A | 1985 to 1991 | 1 | 0.0 | 15 | 2 |
| Aerocab | 1994 to 2008 | 1 | 100.0 | 2 | 0 |
| T480 | 2020 to 2027 | 0 | None | 48 | 0 |
| T470 | 2009 to 2023 | 0 | None | 43 | 1 |
| W990 | 2018 to 2027 | 0 | None | 43 | 0 |
| K370 | 2010 to 2026 | 0 | None | 27 | 0 |
| K270 | 2010 to 2026 | 0 | None | 25 | 0 |
| T400 | 1988 to 2015 | 0 | None | 15 | 0 |
| L700 | 1982 to 1986 | 0 | None | 14 | 0 |
| T180 | 2021 to 2025 | 0 | None | 13 | 0 |
| K300 | 2000 to 2016 | 0 | None | 8 | 0 |
| C550 | 2011 to 2016 | 0 | None | 7 | 0 |
| 963 | 2011 to 2016 | 0 | None | 6 | 0 |
| C540 | 2011 to 2016 | 0 | None | 6 | 0 |
| K100E | 1988 to 2003 | 0 | None | 6 | 3 |
| L770 | 2024 to 2026 | 0 | None | 6 | 0 |
| K370 Dual-Steer | 2013 to 2017 | 0 | None | 5 | 0 |
| T450 | 1989 to 1996 | 0 | None | 5 | 0 |
| LCF | 1982 to 1985 | 0 | None | 4 | 0 |
| T4 Series | 2010 to 2012 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| VIT | 1980 to 1982 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| W9 Series | 2010 to 2012 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| 136C | 1983 to 1984 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| C500B | 2024 to 2025 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| Chassis | 1983 to 1984 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| T600B | 1994 to 1996 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| W900A | 1980 to 1981 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| 953 | 2008 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| COE Series | 1980 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| K170 | 2016 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| K500 | 2008 to 2012 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| MID Ranger | 1987 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| T271 | 2013 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| T900 | 2002 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| W900S | 2010 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Recall counts add campaigns across model years, so a campaign covering three years counts three times.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns listing a Kenworth product
- 26V-544 Aug 21, 2026
Seat ventilation harness may be missing heat-shrink, resulting in a short circuit
Seats · 811 vehicles - 26V-485 Jul 27, 2026
Power distribution center (PDC) box may be contaminated with oil, which could result in a loss of drive power, Antilock Brake System (ABS)…
Electrical system · 5,925 vehicles - 26V-442 Jul 8, 2026
Trailer air connection quick release (QR) valve in the air brake system may have been incorrectly installed, which can cause the trailer to become…
Brakes · 8 vehicles - 26V-022 Jan 19, 2026
Right-hand stand-up (RHSU) configuration on the steering cross-shaft may become stressed and fail
Steering · 219 vehicles - 25V-569 Sep 2, 2025
15-inch digital display may fail to display warning lights or vehicle speed
Electrical system · 18k vehicles - 25V-436 Jun 26, 2025
Tail brake light, upper and lower beam headlights, reverse light, and turn signal may not illuminate as intended
Lighting · 56k vehicles - 25V-182 Mar 24, 2025
Cradle harness may have a loose electrical connection that can cause a loss of drive power
Electrical system · 211 vehicles - 25V-181 Mar 24, 2025
High voltage (HV) contactors may open, causing a sudden loss of high voltage and a loss of drive power
Electrical system · 238 vehicles - 25V-041 Jan 29, 2025
Exterior lighting switch may fail, resulting in the hazard lights and the instrument display back-light brightness adjustment not functioning
Lighting · 5,378 vehicles - 25V-014 Jan 16, 2025
Throttle pedal assembly may contain an oversized magnet carrier, slowing the responsiveness or causing the pedal to stick
Speed control · 1,110 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.