RoadVitals

1979 Kenworth Coe Series

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.
0
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.
2
Latest Aug 26, 1986
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1979 Kenworth Coe Series. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

Safety recalls

2 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
86V119000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

Aug 26, 1986
4,300 units potentially affected
The defect: FRONT ALUMINUM STEERING AXLE HUBS WERE INCORRECTLY HEATED DURING STUD AND BEARING CUP PRESSING OPERATIONS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: DUE TO THE INCORRECT HEAT TREATMENT THE HUBS MAY CRACK AND FAIL UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS. FAILURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF WHEEL AND VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: ALL RECALLED HUBS WILL BE INSPECTED AND TESTED FOR HARDNESS SPECIFICATIONS. IF THEY FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, THEY WILL BE REPLACED.
PACCAR, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
80V075000

STEERING:LINKAGES

Jun 19, 1980
3,050 units potentially affected
The defect: STEERING ARMS ON INVOLVED VEHICLES, IDENTIFIED BY THE HEAT CODE "E14", MAY HAVE RECEIVED IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE STEERING ARM TO CRACK OR BREAK.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE ALL STEERING ARMS IDENTIFIED BY THE "E14" HEAT CODE WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
PACCAR, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE86068ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEER AXLE HUB FAILURE

Opened Jul 29, 1986
Closed Sep 4, 1986

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:IN THEIR OCTOBER, 1982, RESPONSETO THIS OFFICE, PACCAR STATED, ... TESTING AND ANALYSIS INDICATED APROJECTED LIFE OF OVER ONE MILLION MILES (1,000,000) WHEN OPERATED ATRATED LOAD UNDER USUAL AND CUSTOMARY CONDITIONS.ANALYSIS:THE HUB APPEARS TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FAILURE ESPECIALLYUNDER HEAVY BRAKING, CORNERING AND ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS.ALTHOUGH NOSAFETY TREND WAS IDENTIFIED DURING THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION, IT ISAPPARENT THAT FATIGUE FAILURES ARE OCCURRING.THE CANADIAN MINISTRY OFTRANSPORT REPORTS 25 RECENT COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE.PREVIOUS INFORMATIONSHOWS THAT FATIGUE FAILURES DID NOT OCCUR IN THE PREVIOUS DESIGNED HUB,OR THE REAR DESIGN HUB.PRESUMABLY ALL THREE HUBS ARE SUBJECTED TO THESAME TYPES OF DYNAMIC LOADING, YET THE K150-D-202 HUB APPARENTLY FAILS ATA HIGHER RATE THAN THE OTHER TWO.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN A PE.SEND AN IR FOR UPDATED STATISTICS ON THISALLEGED PROBLEM.

STEERINGLed to recall 86V119000

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kenworth Coe Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1980010—
1979Viewing021—
1978030—
1977020—
1976010—
1975010—

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.