Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering › linkages. It has been recalled 4 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Steering › Linkages
1
0
0
0
Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
1
0
0
0
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Hub03V125000
Filed Apr 1, 2003154 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
Risk. SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FRONT AXLE HUBS. NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2003. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ADVISED US THAT PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITH A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm01V051000
Filed Feb 20, 2001209 vehiclesPaccar, Incorporated
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 54" REAR AXLE SPACING CONFIGURATION OF THE AIRGLIDE 200 SUSPENSION WITH THE SERVICE APPLICATION IDENTIFIED AS LOGGER, DUMP TRUCK, OR TANKER. THE REAR SUSPENSION IS REGULARLY SUBJECTED TO EXTREME ARTICULATION, RESULTING IN FLEXING OF THE JOINT.
Risk. FAILURE OF THE LOWER SWAY ARM ATTACHING BOLTS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SWAY ARM BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.
Electrical System › Ignition › Module99V181001
Filed Jul 9, 1999272 vehiclesPaccar, Incorporated
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE ENGINES CAN STALL BECAUSE OF SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.
Risk. INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN OCCUR.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL UPDATE THESE ENGINES WITH SOFTWARE CHANGES. CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THIS RECALL.
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood98V129000
Filed Jun 11, 19989,500 vehiclesPaccar, Incorporated
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3406E ENGINES. THE ROUTING OF THE ELECTRICAL AND FUEL LINES CAN CAUSE CHAFFING OF THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk. THIS CHAFFING CAN CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE AND A POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT, ADJUST, AND REPAIR, IF NECESSARY, THE FUEL LINE AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Suspension
Filed Oct 20, 20151,200,000 milesOH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KENWORTH T2000. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LATERAL PINS HOLDING THE SUSPENSION HAD SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH REAR SWAY BARS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V051000 (SUSPENSION) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200,000.
Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jun 21, 2003745,000 milesTX
I HAD A FUEL LINE FAILURE ON MY 98 KENWORTH T2000 WITH A 60 SERIES DETROIT ENGINE. THE FUEL LINE IS ROUTED BEHIND THE STARTER AND IT RUPTURED DO TO RUBBING ON THE CLAMP THAT IS SUPPOSED TO STOP IT FROM VIBRATION. IT COVERED EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH FUEL ALONG WITH THE STARTER. IF I HAD USED THE STARTER I AM SURE THE RESULTING FIRE WOULD HAVE DONE A HUGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. THIS IS A VERY STANDARD PRACTICE OF KENWORTH TO ROUTE THE FUEL LINES THIS WAY. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY MECHANIC'S THAT SAY THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY. *NLM
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 1, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.