Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, air. It has been recalled 5 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Air
1
0
0
0
Air Bags
1
1
0
1
5 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring04V174000
Filed Apr 12, 200425 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated
Defect. CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON FULLER ULTRASONIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." THE CAB TRANSMISSION HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY WIRED DURING PRODUCTION INSTALLATION.
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE NEUTRAL START FEATURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO DISABLE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO START IN GEAR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE CONNECTIONS IN THE WIRING HARNESS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers03V285000
Filed Aug 5, 2003117 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated
Defect. ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE MAIN CAB WIRING HARNESS WAS INCORRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE 50 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER INSTEAD OF THE 135 AMP BREAKER.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND THE WIRING WILL BE CORRECTED IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 16, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
Unknown or Other03V234000
Filed Jul 1, 200384 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated
Defect. ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VERTICAL TAIL PIPES, THE FRAME ACCESS GRABHANDLE IS MOUNTED TOO HIGH.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A PERSON TO SLIP AND/OR FALL AND COULD LEAD TO PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE GRABHANDLE LOCATION AND IF DETERMINED TO BE MOUNTED TOO HIGH, THE HANDLE WILL BE RELOCATED TO THE PROPER HEIGHT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
Trailer Hitches › Fifth Wheel Assembly03V168000
Filed May 5, 2003483 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.
Risk. IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. PETERBILT'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. KENWORTH'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2003. 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 PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.
Exterior Lighting03V045000
Filed Feb 13, 20039,890 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated
Defect. CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER CONNECTIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS) NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE SUPPLIER REMOVED A RUBBER GROMMET FROM THE TRAILER LIGHT LINE CONNECTOR. THE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING CORROSION AT THE 7-WAY TRAILER CONNECTION. THIS CAUSES INTERMITTENT FLASHING/FLICKERING OF THE TRAILER LIGHTS.
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND/OR POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING GROMMET ON ALL AFFECTED CHASSIS. IF A CONNECTOR IS FOUND DEFECTIVE, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2003. 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 1-425-828-5440.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 24, 200976,241 milesTN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KENWORTH T600. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH IN LIGHT RAIN, SNOW AND HEAVY WIND WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE STRONG WIND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE, BEGIN SLIDING DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACTS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEELS AND WAS CUT BY BROKEN GLASS. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO KICK THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW OUT TO ESCAPE FROM VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. DURING THE CRASH, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK WHEN AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,241 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,241.
Service Brakes, Air
Filed Jul 24, 2003175,000 milesCA
FAILURE OF JAKE BRAKES ON 2003 KENWORTH T-600. THE JAKE BRAKES ON MY KENWORTH FAILED TO COME ON. I DIRECTED IT TO THE KENWORTH DEALERSHIP IN CARLISLE, PA. WHO AFTER MANY HOURS OF DIAGNOSISING DETERMINED THAT THE JAKE BRAKES HAD FAILED BECAUSE A WIRE HAD COME LOOSE AT THE BACK OF THE AM/FM RADIO!!!! THE BRAKES CAN FAIL BECAUSE OF A LOOSE WIRE @ THE AM/FM RADIO. GOD HELP THE POOR SOUL IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK COMING DOWN A 6% GRADE RELYING ON HIS JAKES TO SLOW HIM DOWN WHICH FAIL BECAUSE OF A LOOSE WIRE BEHIND THE RADIO. NUT!*AK
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 12, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.