RoadVitals

2005 Caterpillar C15

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
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Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Dec 12, 2005
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.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Caterpillar C15. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

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
05E078000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Dec 12, 2005
55,794 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 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.
The risk: OIL LINE WEAR MAY CAUSE AN OIL LEAK AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: OWNERS OR DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VVA LINE FOR WEAR. IF VVA LINE WEAR IS NOTED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LINE. A CLIP WILL BE ADDED TO PREVENT FUTURE LINE WEAR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2006.
CATERPILLAR INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE05049ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE FIRES

Opened Sep 9, 2005
Closed Dec 16, 2005

THE OPENING OF THIS INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON TWO ISSUES, THE FIRSTBEING A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (PIP) RELEASED BY CATERPILLAR (PI30821) RELATING TO AN OIL LINE LEAK ON CERTAIN C15 ENGINES THAT CAN OCCUR AT THE RIGHT REAR TURBO-CHARGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE.THIS PIP INCLUDES A LETTER SENT TO OWNERS OF THE C15 ENGINES THAT STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER URGES THE OWNER TO HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED FOR YOUR ADDED SAFETY AND SATISFACTION.THE SECOND ISSUE WAS A REPORT FORWARDED TO ODI FROM A FIRE INVESTIGATOR IN CANADA.THIS INVESTIGATOR REPORTED THAT HE HAD INVESTIGATED A FIRE ON A 2005 MODEL YEAR KENWORTH T800 WITH A CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE.THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE RIGHT REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BURNED VEHICLE WERE FORWARDED WITH THE REPORT.AS A RESULT OF ODITHE OPENING OF THIS INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON TWO ISSUES, THE FIRSTBEING A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (PIP) RELEASED BY CATERPILLAR (PI30821) RELATING TO AN OIL LINE LEAK ON CERTAIN C15 ENGINES THAT CAN OCCUR AT THE RIGHT REAR TURBO-CHARGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE.THIS PIP INCLUDES A LETTER SENT TO OWNERS OF THE C15 ENGINES THAT STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER URGES THE OWNER TO HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED FOR YOUR ADDED SAFETY AND SATISFACTION.THE SECOND ISSUE WAS A REPORT FORWARDED TO ODI FROM A FIRE INVESTIGATOR IN CANADA.THIS INVESTIGATOR REPORTED THAT HE HAD INVESTIGATED A FIRE ON A 2005 MODEL YEAR KENWORTH T800 WITH A CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE.THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE RIGHT REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BURNED VEHICLE WERE FORWARDED WITH THE REPORT.AS A RESULT OF ODI?S INVESTIGATION, CATERPILLAR HAS AGREED TO CONVERT THE PIP TOA SAFETY RECALL.THE RECALL REMEDY WILL INVOLVE THE ADDITION OF A CLIP THAT WILL PREVENT VVA LINE ABRASION AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VVA LINE IF INSPECTIONS SHOWS SIGNS OF WEAR.THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS ( FREIGHTLINER, WESTERN STAR, AND PACCAR) WILL BE NOTIFIFIED BY CATERPILLAR.A COPY OF CATERPILLAR'S RECALL IS ATTACHED.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.CATERPILLAR'S ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION AND, THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESELLed to recall 05E078000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SEBD-6881

ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

CATERPILLAR(CAT): INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED REGARDING THE ACCESSORIES AND NEW TURBO CHARGERS, REPLACEMENT AND OVERHAUL OF VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ON CERTAIN HIGH HORSEPOWER TRUCK ENGINES AND ON HIGHWAY TRUCK ENGINES. MODELS C11, 13, 15. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

TIB-6146

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

CATERPILLAR: THERE IS THREAD DAMAGE TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND DIESEL FILTER PORTS. *RM

SB-SMCS-5502

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

CATERPILLAR: NEW IMPROVED AIR LINES FOR AIR COMPRESSORS. NEW AIR COMPRESSORS GROUPS ARE USED FOR ALL ENGINES. THE CHANGES INCLUDE STEEL BRAIDED HOSE AND NEW FITTINGS THAT WILL ADD IMPROVED LIFE AND RELIABILITY TO THE PARTS. MODEL ENGINE C15 (S/N:BXS1-UP; MXS1-UP; NXS1-UP). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

PS-42852

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

CATERPILLAR ENGINE: EXISTING COMPONENTS ON THE REGENERATION SYSTEM CAN FAIL CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO NOT REGENERATE PROPERLY. MODEL AND MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

TIB-U- 5301-01

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

CATERPILLAR:OIL EMULSION: A THICK MIXTURE OF ENGINE OIL AND CRANKCASE MOISTURE THAT ADHERES TO INTERNAL ENGINE SURFACES. MODEL AND MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Caterpillar C15 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007000—
2005Viewing011—
2004011—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.