RoadVitals

2025 Kenworth T280

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

NHTSA has issued a “do not drive” advisory affecting this model year.

Campaign 24V433000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.

Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov
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.
7
Latest Jun 26, 2025
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 2025 Kenworth T280. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 30 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

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

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
25V436000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

Jun 26, 2025
56,260 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Kenworth T480, T680, T880, W990, Peterbilt 520, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, 589, 2025 Kenworth T180, Peterbilt 535, 2025-2026 Kenworth T280, T380 and L770 vehicles. The tail brake light, upper and lower beam headlights, reverse light, and turn signal may not illuminate as intended. In addition, the lift axles, if lowered, may revert to a raised position, or oscillate up and down when the signal warning lights are activated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Delayed and unsteady headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an unexpected position change of the lift axles may increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will update the VCU software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 25PACF.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 25PACFView on NHTSA.gov
25V041000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

Jan 29, 2025
5,378 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2025 Kenworth T180, Peterbilt 535, 567, 2025-2026 Kenworth T280, 2023-2026 Kenworth T380, 2024-2026 Kenworth T480, 2024-2026 Peterbilt 536, 537, and 548 trucks. The exterior lighting switch may fail, resulting in the hazard lights and the instrument display back-light brightness adjustment not functioning. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Inoperative hazard lights cannot alert other drivers as intended. In addition, the inability to adjust the brightness on the instrument panel display can make it difficult to see critical safety information or distract the driver. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle cab controller unit (VECU) software, free of charge. Owners are advised that a non-responsive switch can be temporarily reset by a key cycle. Owner notification letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 25KWB and 25PBB.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 25KWB 25PBBView on NHTSA.gov
24V915000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Dec 9, 2024
220,764 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
The risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24KWL 24PBLView 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.

24KWL/PBL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

The verbiage in the Introduction section has been updated.

24KWC/24PBC

STEERING

Updated Sheppard Steering Gear Classification Tool link in Inspection Procedure

14-037

An improved transmission bracket is now available for replacement on certain chassis equipped with a PACCAR TX-12 transmission, featuring a more durable design for enhanced long-term performance.

T024

POWER TRAIN

"KW & PB: New software is available for download. The DAVIE4 cache must be cleared before attempting to reprogram a chassis that is experiencing problems to ensure the latest version of software is installed. Follow all steps in the attached procedures before submitting a TCS case."

T-024

POWER TRAIN

The repair procedure has been updated to include diagnostic steps.

43-080

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"KW: A new recommended repair has been added to verify the software level and close the campaign in SIR.The repair procedure has been updated with additional note boxes for clear instructions. PB: The repair procedure has been updated with additional note boxes for clear instructions."

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 T280 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026020—
2025Viewing070—
2024090—
20231120—
2022070—
2021060—

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.