RoadVitals

2007 Kenworth C500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
1
Latest Jun 5, 2007
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.
6
Latest Mar 24, 2011
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2007 Kenworth C500. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 7 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

6 campaigns 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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Mar 24, 2011
5,831 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The 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.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 11KWB & 0311-AView on NHTSA.gov

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

Apr 25, 2008
3,573 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR IS RECALLING 3,573 MY 2007 KENWORTH C500, T800, T600, T2000, AND W900 CHASSIS BUILT WITH PHILLIPS QCS II TRAILER CABLE CONNECTION AND TRAILER CABLE MOUNTING BRACKET WITH 'U-SHAPED' CUT OUT. CERTAIN TRAILER CABLE MOUNTING BRACKETS HAVE A 'U-SHAPED' CUT OUT THAT ONLY PARTIALLY SUPPORTS THE TRAILER CABLE CONNECTION. PARTIAL SUPPORT OF THE CABLE CONNECTION MAY ALLOW THE MOLDED BOOT AND ELECTRICAL GROUND PIN TO PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY PULL AWAY FROM THE 7-WAY SOCKET. PARTIAL OR COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTION CAN CAUSE REDUCED WATER RESISTANCE AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL GROUND. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE OPERATOR'S KNOWLEDGE.
The risk: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, OTHER MOTORISTS MAY NOT BE WARNED OF THE TRACTOR/TRAILER MOVEMENTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE FLEXIBLE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, AND REATTACH THE SUPPORTING BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY MAY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 08KW6View on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SLACK ADJUSTERS

Mar 4, 2008
130 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 08KW2 & 208CView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Filed Jun 5, 2007

CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW IF SAFETY RECALL 07V217000 WAS THE LAST RECALL**CC *TR

NHTSA ID
10193167
Incident
Jan 1, 1901

Manufacturer communications

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

02-160

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Information Only – Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.

32-015

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.

32-016

EQUIPMENT

Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.

34-085

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Information Only – Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to water intrusion and corrosion in some vehicles.

01-075

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.

TIB-42-41

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

KENWORTH SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. TOP TANK REPLACEMENT FOR C500 AND W900 WITH ISX; FIELD CAMPAIGN. EARLY DESIGN TOP TANKS ON 1430 SQUARE INCH RADIATORS FOR 2007 EMISSIONS COMPLIANT ENGINES CAN CREATE COOLANT PUMP AND/OR EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER FAILURES. *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

Kenworth C500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025010
2024000
2023010
2022010
2021010
2020010
2019040
2018050
2017040
2016030
2015030
2014040
2013020
2012130
2011060
2010140
2009050
2008090
2007Viewing160
2006151
2005050
2004040
2003030
2002020
2001040
2000070
1999170
1998030
1997030
1996040
1995010
1994010
1993010
1992010
1991030
1990010
1989010
1981010
1980010
1979010
1978020
1977020
1976020
1975020

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.