Kenworth W900L problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
249,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 1999 model years. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Interior Lighting: 1; Service Brakes, Air: 1; Structure: 1; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 895991 · 2001-09-07 (September 7, 2001)
FRAME EXTENSION FOR VEHICLE BROKE SIX TIMES IN FOUR YEARS WHERE STEERING BOX WAS ATTACHED TO FRAME. DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THIS ON EACH INCIDENT, FAILING TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE / MODEL / YEAR EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895991 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1990: 1; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1997: 0; 1999: 0
Year-by-year records
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1997 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 10168773 · 249,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHECKING THE OIL, THE HOOD WAS LIFTED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRAME RAIL WAS FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE FRAME RAIL WAS REPLACED. |
| Exterior Lighting | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. |
| Interior Lighting | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. |
| Service Brakes, Air | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. |
| Structure | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 895991FRAME EXTENSION FOR VEHICLE BROKE SIX TIMES IN FOUR YEARS WHERE STEERING BOX WAS ATTACHED TO FRAME. DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THIS ON EACH INCIDENT, FAILING TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE / MODEL / YEAR EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10151119 · 800,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L, AND STATED THE HOOD WOULD NOT SHUT BECAUSE THE FRAME CRACKED. THE CRACK OCCURRED 10 INCHES BEHIND THE SPRING HANGER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRAME RAIL. *AK |
| Tires | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 895991FRAME EXTENSION FOR VEHICLE BROKE SIX TIMES IN FOUR YEARS WHERE STEERING BOX WAS ATTACHED TO FRAME. DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THIS ON EACH INCIDENT, FAILING TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE / MODEL / YEAR EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | Too few reports for a range | 249,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10168773 · 249,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHECKING THE OIL, THE HOOD WAS LIFTED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRAME RAIL WAS FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE FRAME RAIL WAS REPLACED. |
| Exterior Lighting | Too few reports for a range | 142,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. |
| Interior Lighting | Too few reports for a range | 142,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. |
| Service Brakes, Air | Too few reports for a range | 142,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | Too few reports for a range | 800,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10151119 · 800,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L, AND STATED THE HOOD WOULD NOT SHUT BECAUSE THE FRAME CRACKED. THE CRACK OCCURRED 10 INCHES BEHIND THE SPRING HANGER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRAME RAIL. *AK |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1997: 1 complaints · 1999: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Structure:Frame And Members | Exterior Lighting | Interior Lighting | Service Brakes, Air | Structure | Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | — | 1ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. | 1ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 0 | 1ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. | — | 1ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 0 | 1ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. | 1ODI 10245725 · 142,500 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KENWORTH W900L STUDIO. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MISSISSIPPI, HE WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS WERE FINE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN TEXAS, THE DOT REGULATION AND AIR SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN. THE CONTACT WANTS TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO WANTS ALL OF HIS LEASE PAYMENTS RETURNED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 142,500. | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 1ODI 895991FRAME EXTENSION FOR VEHICLE BROKE SIX TIMES IN FOUR YEARS WHERE STEERING BOX WAS ATTACHED TO FRAME. DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THIS ON EACH INCIDENT, FAILING TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE / MODEL / YEAR EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM.*AK |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 895991FRAME EXTENSION FOR VEHICLE BROKE SIX TIMES IN FOUR YEARS WHERE STEERING BOX WAS ATTACHED TO FRAME. DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THIS ON EACH INCIDENT, FAILING TO EFFECTIVELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE / MODEL / YEAR EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM.*AK | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.