RoadVitals

2021 Kenworth C500

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 Feb 23, 2024
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.
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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 2021 Kenworth C500. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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
24V145000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

Feb 23, 2024
936 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2009-2021 Kenworth C500, 2012-2021 Kenworth T440, 2009-2015 Kenworth T660, 2015-2024 Kenworth T680, 2009-2024 Kenworth T800, 2009-2020 Kenworth T370, 2014-2023 Kenworth T880, 2011-2016 Kenworth T470, 2023 Kenworth T480, and 2009-2019 Kenworth W900 vehicles. The air tanks have an insufficient volume of air for the brake system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: Insufficient air volume can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will install the correct volume air tanks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 12, 2024. Additional owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2025. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 24KWD.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24KWDView on NHTSA.gov

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.

45-070

ENGINE

The attached procedures document has been updated with more detail and explanations. This is not a stand-alone procedure. Cummins Quickserve troubleshooting will specify the use of these procedures while troubleshooting specific fault codes.

45-070

ENGINE

Procedure pictures updated for clarity. When troubleshooting Cummins X15 fault codes 555 or 556, follow this additional testing, inspection, and documentation procedure to help identify the root cause of dusted engines. This is not a stand-alone process but must be used alongside Cummins troubleshooting steps. Cummins Quickserve will reference this bulletin for fault codes 555 or 556.

24KWD

SERVICE BRAKES

SAFETY RECALL Additional chassis have been included. The chassis list has been updated. Certain T370 / T440 / T470 / T480 / T660 / T680 / T800 / T880 / W900 / C500 chassis may be equipped with air tank reservoirs that have less than twelve times the combined volume of all service brake chambers which fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.121, Air Brake Systems.

24KWD

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Certain C500/T440/T470/T660/T680/T800/T880/W900 chassis may have air tank reservoirs that do not meet air volume requirements per FMVSS/CMVSS 121 “Air Brake Systems”. This bulletin will be updated when repair parts and procedures are available.

23KWK

EQUIPMENT; SEAT BELTS; SEATS

Safety Recall Repair parts and procedures are now available. On certain Kenworth model years 2018 through 2024 C500/T660/T800/W900 trucks with Sears Atlas 70 or 80 series seats, a spacer was installed on the seatbelt mounting assembly. In a severe collision, the ICP bar may fail, increasing the risk of injury.

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—
2021Viewing010—
2020010—
2019040—
2018050—
2017040—
2016030—
2015030—
2014040—
2013020—
2012130—
2011060—
2010140—
2009050—
2008090—
2007160—
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.