2015 Kenworth T680

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE21018) based on eleven Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ). These VOQs included seven wheel-end fires on various Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.Several of the VOQs were submitted by a maintenance facility stating that the fires were due to power spring fractures within brake chambers manufactured by Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems (Haldex). According to the reports, the fractured spring punctured the brake chamber diaphragm, resulting in a partial loss of compressed air to the park brakes, causing the brakes to drag and overheat. ODI sent an information request letter to Haldex on August 3, 2021. On October 17, 2021, Haldex submitted a complete response. In this investigation, ODI analyzed thousands of warranty claims as well as fleet reports of brake chamber replacements. ODI gathered information from multiple vehicle manufacturers and reviewed legal testimony alleging defects and laboratory reports that raised concerns about spring failures initiated by corrosion. ODI found that spring failures were often detectable as soon as they occurred. In the subject incidents, after detecting the failures, some operators continued driving to a maintenance facility rather than stopping and waiting for a mobile technician to address the issue, increasing the risk of fire. While over twenty entities purchased the subject component from Haldex, the VOQs that ODI received involved only PACCAR vehicles. Haldex completed replacement campaigns for several fleets operating PACCAR vehicles, reducing the risk of further failures. Brake chambers have a limited service life. Industry guidance generally recommends replacement every two to four years depending on operating conditions, with some manufacturers and fleets recommending even shorter intervals. Vehicles operating in salt-belt states—where the majority of VOQs originated—require more frequent replacement than vehicles in less corrosive environments. Haldex’s standard warranty is four years and unlimited mileage. ODI determined that the average time in service for warranty claims was 4.9 years and 260,000 miles. Currently, all of the chambers subject to this investigation are between five and ten years old. Given the absence of recent failures and because the subject components are now older than their expected service life, ODI is closing this investigation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2015 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he noticed smoke coming through the AC vents and from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and opened the hood of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the water pump was leaking and one of the hose pipe was cracked. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a nearby independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the water pump and the hose pipe needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 924,278.

NHTSA ID

11485741

Incident

Sep 19, 2022

Mileage

924,278 mi

3

NHTSA ID

11444045

Incident

Nov 30, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KENWORTH T680. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAVY TRUCK EXHIBITED NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE DIESEL FUEL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURES OF THE NOX SENSOR, DIESEL FUEL DOSING VALVE, THE EGR COOLER, THE HC VALVE, THE AMMONIA SENSOR, THE COMMON RAIL, FUEL PUMP, EXHAUST FLEX PIPE, AND THE COMPUTER ALSO FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE HEAVY TRUCK TO NOT EXCEED 5 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIR COVERAGE HOWEVER, THE MILEAGE OF 435,000 MILES WAS EXCEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 530,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11322873

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

530,000 mi

MY 2015 KENWORTH T680 FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SHOP HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP THAT CAUSING THE ENGINE OF MY TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSED ME A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY SO I AM PLACING THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF I CAN GET ANY ASSISTANCE, THANKS.

NHTSA ID

11219663

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

Mileage

20 mi

TAKATA RECALL MHC KENWORTH HAS REPLACED OR CORRECTED THE DRIVERS LOW BEAM LIGHT 5 TIMES, 3 FOR FEE AND 2 AS A COST TO MY BUSINESS. THE THIS HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION AND THE LIGHT BULB IS NOT EVEN BLOWN. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GOES PITCH BLACK DARK. THE ORANGE ENGINE OUTLINE COMES ON EVERY SINGLE TIME THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE DRIVING THIS TRUCK LIKE THIS. THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO MISFIRE AFTER THE WARRANTY COVERED THE INJECTORS REPLACEMENT. SOME TIMES THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN IN THE TRUCK. I NEED ANSWERS ASAP AS THIS CAN COST THOUSANDS IN FINES AND DOT FEES! THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, NUMEROUS TIMES WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING DEC 2018 AND JAN 2019. THE CABINET HANDLES FELL OFF AND THE BOTH ARM RESTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS 3 YEAR OLD TRUCK IS FALLING APART.

NHTSA ID

11165381

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

669,842 mi

I HAVE ALWAYS ANY LIGHTS ON MY TRUCK / NOW CHEEK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR CCV SPEEDO ROTOR / SENSOR NOX ALL MOST $3500 DOLLER NEED FIX / I DON'T HAVE / BEFORE I LOT MONEY PUT ON REPAIR/

NHTSA ID

11154820

Incident

Oct 15, 2018

Mileage

395,600 mi

DRIVER DRIVING DOWN FLAT HYWAY NEAR EASTON PA RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE BRAKES STARTED ON FIRE CAUSE THOUGHT TO BE HALDEX BRAKE CHAMBER SINCE HAVING SO MANY FAIL FAILURES OF THIS GOLD SEAL CHAMBER AND CAUSING FIRES, TOTAL LOSS OF BOTH TRUCK AND TRAILER, DRIVER CONFIRMED RIGHT FRONT HEEL END ON FIRE AND COULD NOT GET IT PUT OUT DUE TO ALL THE HEAT

NHTSA ID

11110397

Incident

Jan 26, 2017

Mileage

348,455 mi

WHEN THE ENGINE RUNS HOT, FROM HARD PULLS OVER A MOUNTAIN, THE POWER STEERING FLUID GETS SO HOT IT BOILS. I LOSE SOME POWER STEERING WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

11080420

Incident

Mar 16, 2018

Mileage

508,600 mi

Troubleshooting procedures for 2.1m cab power windows are now available.

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.

E304: PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 EMY2016 NOx and N2O Exceedance Emissions Recall Certain vehicles with PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 EMY2016 engines with less than 300,000 miles (482,803 km) have been shown, in testing, to exceed regulatory limits for NOx and N2O emissions. This bulletin now applies to both Canadian and U.S.-registered vehicles. Software is now available to remedy this emissions non-compliance. NOTE California-registered vehicles that received a letter must have the software updated AND California documentation completed regardless of vehicle mileage.

Certain Model Year 2021-2024 chassis with PACCAR MX engines and optional fuel filter restriction virtual gauge may display incorrect restriction levels. The virtual gauge will be temporarily disabled until a revised sensor strategy is developed.

Kenworth is providing guidance for PACCAR MX Engine Composite Oil Pan leak troubleshooting to avoid over-repairs and to provide warrantable repair guidance. Oil leaks, if not repaired, can lead to severe engine damage.

Emissions Recall - PACCAR MX-13 Engine Model Year 2015B engines require a software update to ensure emissions compliance for On-Board Diagnostic (OBD).