2006 Kenworth W900: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KENWORTH W900 SEMI TRACTOR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT LARGE AMOUNTS OF BLACK SMOKE WHICH VIOLATED EPA EMISSIONS GUIDELINES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,201. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327560 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ACCURIDE ALUMINUM WHEELS, THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY PRE-STRESSED. THIS ALLOWS CRACKS TO DEVELOP OVER TIME.

Consequence: THIS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO WHEEL FAILURE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: ALL THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND THE WHEELS REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2005-10-04 (October 4, 2005)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR SERIES 145 OR 160 REAR DRIVE AXLES, SOME SPINDLES WERE OVERHEATED DURING THE HEAT TREAT PROCESS.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A FRACTURE OF THE SPINDLE.

Remedy: KENWORTH HAS CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND CORRECTED. NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THIS CAMPAIGN.

Reported: 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PACCAR, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440, OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Reported: 2006-10-13 (October 13, 2006)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CHALMERS REAR SUSPENSIONS, THE ADJUSTABLE TORQUE ROD END CASTINGS MAY BE BRITTLE. A BRITTLE ROD END CASTING MAY FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLES' REAR AXLES TO BECOME MISALIGNED.

Consequence: THIS MISALIGNMENT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AT SPEEDS THAT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A SUSPECT TORQUE ROD END. IF A SUSPECT TORQUE ROD END IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE TORQUE ROD WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2006-11-30 (November 30, 2006)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, AN RA529 KING PIN RELEASE AIR VALVE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE INTERNAL SPOOL INSTALLED BACKWARDS. THIS RESULTS IN THE AIR OPTION OF THE KING PIN RELEASE SYSTEM BEING INOPERABLE. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION, THE VEHICLE'S AIR LINES WERE REVERSED RATHER THAN REPLACING THE VALVE.

Consequence: WITH THE LINES REVERSED, THE KING PIN CAN BE RELEASED WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER COULD DRIVE AWAY AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DISENGAGED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: KENWORTH WILL INSPECT THE KING PIN RELEASE SYSTEM AND SUSPECT VALVE. IF ANY VEHICLES HAVE A NONCONFORMING VALVE OR INCORRECT PLUMBING, IT WILL BE REPLACED AND RE-PLUMBED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2007-03-09 (March 9, 2007)

CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE BRAKE TIMING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE VALVE WAS MOVED TO THE OPPOSITE RAIL, INCREASING THE LENGTH OF THE AIR LINE, WHICH IN TURN INCREASED THE WHEELBASE REQUIRING A DUAL RELAY VALVE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A SINGLE VALVE SYSTEM.

Consequence: IF STOPPING DISTANCE WAS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CONVERT THE SINGLE RELAY VALVE TO A DUAL RELAY VALVE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

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: 2008-03-04 (March 4, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 130 MY 2005-2007 KENWORTH C500, T800, W900, AND PETERBILT MODELS 357 AND 379 TRACTOR TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH FABCO SLACK ADJUSTERS ON SISU AXLES. THE SLACK ADJUSTERS MAY FAIL AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE CRACK RENDERING THE SLACK ADJUSTER INOPERATIVE. THIS COULD REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.

Consequence: REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2008-09-24 (September 24, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 130 MY 2004-2009 T2000, T800, T600, W900 AND T660 KENWORTH TRUCKS BUILT WITH AN AG400 REAR SUSPENSION, LONG STROKE BRAKE CHAMBERS, AND WIDE BASE TIRES (SUPER SINGLES). THESE VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP AN INCREASE IN LATERAL AND VERTICAL AXLE MOVEMENT. THIS MOVEMENT MAY CAUSE PART OR PARTS OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY (BRAKE CAM TUBE SUPPORT, BRAKE CHAMBER BRACKET, BRAKE CHAMBER, BRAKE SPIDER) TO DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE PART OR PARTS WITHIN THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: A FAILURE MAY REDUCE VEHICLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CAM TUBE SUPPORT BRACKETS ON ALL OF THE REAR AXLE WHEEL ENDS. INSPECT THE REAR AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT IF CRACKED. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 4,883 MY 2006-2009 KENWORTH T600, T660, T800, W900, T2000 AND MY 2008-2009 PETERBILT 365, 367, 379, 384, 386, 387, 388 AND 389 TRUCKS. INADEQUATE STIFFNESS OF THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) BRACKET COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE DPF FROM THE CHASSIS.

Consequence: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR IF ANOTHER VEHICLE STRIKES THE DPF ON THE ROADWAY.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES (PLEASE SEE 08E041). OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-800-447-4986 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2009-06-30 (June 30, 2009)

KENWORTH IS RECALLING 3,423 MY 2004-2009 T2000, T800,T600, W900 AND T660 VEHICLES. INCREASED BRAKE EXCITATION IN A CERTAIN VEHICLE CONFIGURATION WHICH INCLUDES BENDIX DRUM BRAKES, WIDE BASE LOW PROFILE SINGLE TIRES, AND AN AG400 OR AG460 REAR SUSPENSION, DUE TO ITS UNIQUE BRAKE CLOCKING AND CAM TUBE LENGTH, CAN CAUSE FATIGUE AND CRACKING TO BRAKE ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS.

Consequence: CRACKING CAN CAUSE A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE CAM TUBE, WHICH COULD INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND DECREASE PARKING BRAKE HOLD CAPABILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE BRAKES ASSEMBLY, REPLACE CRACKED REAR AXLE BRAKES ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS WHERE REQUIRED, AND INSTALL CAM TUBE SUPPORT BRACKETS ON ALL REAR AXLE WHEEL ENDS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OR BEFORE JULY 25, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.