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Caterpillar Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

NHTSA safety recalls, owner-reported complaints and investigations, by model and model year · 1982–2016

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received. This total counts a complaint once for each Caterpillar model year it names.
3
Safety recallsDistinct NHTSA recall campaigns covering at least one Caterpillar model year. One campaign can cover several models and many model years; it is counted once here.
12
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Models coveredModels with at least one model year that has enough NHTSA data to publish.
12
21 model years

Overview

Our database holds 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints filed against Caterpillar vehicles. Our database also holds 12 safety recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations covering at least one Caterpillar model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Caterpillar models

Ordered by total owner-reported complaint volume, which is not a ranking of quality

Caterpillar models with published safety data
ModelModel yearsComplaintsRecalls
3406E1998–199921
31161988–199803
3126E200301
3306B1987–199001
3306B,3406B198800
3406B1987–199001
C101998–199901
C121998–199901
C152004–200501
Caterpillar1982–198700
CT6602012–201605
CT681201501

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Complaint totals count a report once for each model year it names; recall totals count a campaign once per model.

Recently issued recalls

The 8 newest campaigns covering a Caterpillar vehicle in our database

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
17V641000CT660

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLYCaterpillar Inc. (Caterpillar) is recalling all 2016 Navistar CT660S trucks equipped with certain Spicer D or E series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.

14V814000CT660, CT681

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIRCaterpillar Inc. (Caterpillar) is recalling certain model year 2015 CT660, and CT681 trucks manufactured July 28, 2014, to November 5, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience brake drag due to an improperly seated diaphragm in the brake chamber.

14V068000CT660

SERVICE BRAKESCaterpillar Inc. (Caterpillar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CT660 trucks manufactured August 2011 through August 2012, and equipped with feature code 0504501, 0504504, or 04EWM Reduced Stopping Distance (RSD) brake linings and with or without feature code 04WCS Greased For Life front air S-cam brakes. In the affected vehicles, the brake S-cam brackets may fracture.

13V072000CT660

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCaterpillar is recalling certain 2012 and 2014 Caterpillar CT660 heavy duty trucks manufactured by Navistar between October 31, 2011, and January 23, 2013. Certain side marker lamps and/or reflective tape were not applied to these vehicles, which have a length of 30 feet or longer. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

12V051000CT660

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVECATERPILLAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012-2013 CT660 COMMERCIAL TRUCKS, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 2, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 26, 2012, AND EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX ATR-6 TRACTION RELAY VALVES. IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS, THESE BENDIX RELAY VALVES MAY POTENTIALLY DEVELOP INTERNAL LEAKAGE. INTERNAL LEAKAGE CAN LEAD TO AIR PRESSURE BEING DELIVERED TO AFFECTED PRIMARY OR SECONDARY BRAKE CAUSING CONTINUOUS BRAKE APPLICATION.

05E078000C15

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCERTAIN 2004 AND 2005 C15 DIESEL ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY CATERPILLAR BETWEEN OCTOBER 2003 AND APRIL 2005. THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE (VVA LINE) USED ON 6 CYLINDER, 15L TURBOCHARGED AND AIR-TO-AIR AFTERCOOLED DIESEL ENGINES OF 435-550 HORSEPOWER MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT ORIENTED CORRECTLY.

04E0540003126E

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEMCATERPILLAR 2003 MY 3126E ENGINES WITH CONVERTER MUFFLERS WITH WELDS ADDED TO THE STRAPS THAT SUPPORT THE CONVERTER MUFFLERS TO THE CHASSIS. THESE WELDS ARE CAUSING THE STRAPS TO FAIL.

02E0580003116

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPMODEL NO.: 3126E HYDRAULICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED UNIT INJECTED DIESEL EINGINES WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY PUMPS (HEP8) PRODUCED BY CATERPILLAR BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER 2002 FOR USE ON MEDIUM DUTY ON-HIGHWAY ENGINES. THE PUMP COMPONENTS MAY EXPERIENCE A HIGH PRESSURE SEAL FAILURE WHICH CAN RESULT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF ROUGH RUNNING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE STALL DUE TO A LOSS OF INJECTION ACTUATION PRESSURE.

Browse by model year

Every year with at least one publishable Caterpillar model year

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .