2008 Kenworth C500: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-03-16 (March 16, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WIRING, PARTS, OR TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING REQUIRED FOR THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED WERE EITHER NOT INSTALLED, CONNECTED, OR PROGRAMMED PROPERLY.

Consequence: IF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN LEFT IN DRIVE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE WITHOUT WARNING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO ENSURE THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND, IF NEEDED, WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2007-05-22 (May 22, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE REAR HOOD MOUNTING BRACKETS CAN CONTACT THE FRONT AXLE BRAKE CHAMBER DURING FULL AXLE ARTICULATION.

Consequence: IF CONTACT OCCURS, TWO POSSIBLE SCENARIOS MAY RESULT: (1) THE FRONT BRAKE CHAMBER MAY BE DAMAGED TO A POINT RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF AIR OR CAUSE SUDDEN FULL APPLICATION OF ONE OF THE BRAKES ON THE FRONT AXLE; OR (2) THE FRONT BRAKE CHAMBER MAY BE DAMAGED CAUSING A REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS FOR ANY DAMAGE AND MODIFY THE REAR HOOD SUPPORT BRACKET TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR INTERFERENCE. IF ANY BRAKE COMPONENTS IS DAMAGED, THE DEALER WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 14, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2007-12-20 (December 20, 2007)

ON CERTAIN KENWORTH AND PETERBILT HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TAS-85 TRW STEERING GEARS, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER SECTOR SHAFT TEETH OF THE STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE AN INCORRECT INVOLUTE PROFILE, WHICH MAY LEAD TO CHIPPING AND DAMAGE OF THE GEARING SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE MAY CAUSE A "BIND/STICK" CONDITION IN THE VEHICLE STEERING DURING A TURN INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE ANY SUSPECT TAS-85 STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 9, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Reported: 2008-01-08 (January 8, 2008)

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON SYNFLEX ECLIPSE BRAND EXTRUDED NYLON AIR BRAKE HOSE TUBING FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THE TUBING WAS MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY FOUR LAYERS OF NYLON MATERIAL, INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED FIVE LAYERS.

Consequence: THE DIAMETER OF THE HOSE AFFECTS THE FITTINGS WHICH MAY ALLOW AIR TO LEAK FROM THE BRAKES AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BRAKE HOSES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2008. OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2008-02-07 (February 7, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 6,169 MY 2008 KENWORTH T300, T660, T800, T2000, W900 AND C500 VEHICLES AND MY 2008-2009 PETERBILT MODELS 365, 367, 384, 387, 388, 389 AND 389 KITS. CERTAIN DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS." THE ROTOR IN SOME OF THESE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER HEAT TREATMENT AND MAY BE SOFT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, FORCE COULD CAUSE THE ROTOR TO CRACK AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT HAVE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY CLOSING SECURITY WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO INJURY OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH TRIMARK AND WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH IF IT IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2008-03-21 (March 21, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 1,043 MY 2008-2009 KENWORTH C500, T2000,T660, T800 AND W900 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX MV-3 DASH CONTROL VALVES. THE MOLDED VALVE BODY HAS AN INCORRECT CORE PIN IN THE INJECTION MOLD CAUSING THE VALVE BODY TO BE OVERSIZED IN THE DOUBLE CHECK VALVE AREA. THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE RUBBER DOUBLE CHECK VALVE TO BECOME LODGED IN THE BODY OPENING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Consequence: IF THE DOUBLE CHECK VALVE BECOMES LODGED, IN THE EVENT OF A PRIMARY RESERVOIR FAILURE, AIR PRESSURE CAN LEAK PAST THE LODGED DOUBLE CHECK VALVE THEREBY DEPLETING THE SECONDARY RESERVOIR, CAUSING REDUCED ABILITY FOR MODULATING THE SERVICE EMERGENCY BRAKES. IN SUCH AN EVENT, THE OPERATOR SHOULD OBSERVE AN AIR LEAK, INDICATIONS OF LOW AIR PRESSURE VIA THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR GAUGES, AND AUDIBLE AND VISUAL LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING ALARMS. A VEHICLE CRASH IS POSSIBLE IF THESE WARNINGS ARE NOT HEEDED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BENDIX MV-3 DASH CONTROL VALVES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-4196.

Reported: 2009-05-19 (May 19, 2009)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 112,736 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY RUB AGAINST THE P-CLIPS RETAINING THE OIL LINE, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.

Consequence: AN OIL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REMEDY THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE SEE RECALL 09E-020. CATERPILLAR WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986, PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196 AND KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2010-07-02 (July 2, 2010)

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING SHAFTS. THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD AROUND THE STEERING SHAFT TUBE THAT WELDS THE SPLINED TUBE TO THE NON-SPLINED TUBE MAY BE MISLOCATED. MISLOCATION OF THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD MAY ALLOW THE SPLINED TUBE AND NON-SPLINED TUBE TO ROTATE RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER DURING A LOW SPEED, HIGH TORQUE TURN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE TWO TUBES.

Consequence: A SEPARATION OF THE SPLINED AND NON-SPLINED TUBES WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING SHAFT USING A WELD PLACEMENT GAUGE PROVIDED BY TRW. ANY STEERING SHAFT FOUND TO HAVE BEEN WELDED IMPROPERLY WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 940-591-4196.

Reported: 2011-03-24 (March 24, 2011)

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 KENWORTH C500, T2000, T600, AND T660, AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 PETERBILT 387 AND 388 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE AND MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 17, 2010. DEGRADATION OF A COMBUSTION TUBE WELD CAN CAUSE RADIAL HEAT IMPINGEMENT ON THE BODY WHICH MAY BURN THROUGH CERTAIN BODIES USED ON C15 ENGINES.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: CATERPILLAR IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 11E-006. CATERPILLAR WILL REPLACE THE SINGLE PIECE COMBUSTION TUBE WITH A THICK WALL COMBUSTION TUBE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE HEAT TO BREAK THROUGH. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. DUE TO A PARTS SUPPLY ISSUE, OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THE END OF APRIL 2011 ABOUT THE SAFETY DEFECT, AND WILL THEN BE NOTIFIED AGAIN ONCE THE FREE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE, CURRENTLY ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND LATE JULY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986.