2020 Kenworth T680 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Kenworth T680, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)555.6%
- Brakes222.2%
- Driver assistance222.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Right-hand shift stalk between the shifter and the transmission is causing the vehicle to become disabled while stopped and unable to go from forward to reverse. Also getting SPN 639 pop-up when communication has been lost between the engine control module (ECM) and SAE J1939 data link. The check engine light illuminates, and the ECM immediately logs the fault code. Have to depress brake pedal while stopped & cycle gear selector to get fault to clear to start engine . Message also displayed Transmission Fault Repair Required Find Service Center . Also had new spring clutch replaced in May of 2024. Truck has 525k miles on it .
The clutch Spring on these trucks have been failing heavily. We have a couple more of these trucks and they all have the same issue. the housing for the clutch springs are cracked or damaged at less than 500,000 miles on a heavy duty truck. These clutches are supposed to last over 1MM miles. Its not a coincidence that every truck we have is failing at the same mileage. These clutches are made defective from the manufacturer. Its also a coincidence that the replacement clutches are not the original design and are of a newer design and brand. THIS is RED FLAGS!!!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
This truck was breaking automatically, and no one was front of the truck, it was scary, I almost crashed with loaded trailer on my back, it has done it multiple times, and my traction light and stability light is on all the time and adaptive cruise control had turned off completely abs light comes on and off frequently,
ON SUNDAY, THE 22ND OF MARCH, I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON US HWY 45. THE SKY WAS CLEARING AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. I HAD MY CRUISE SET TO 65 MPH. AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS, THE DISTANCE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK MISTOOK THE SHADOW OF THE OVERPASS AS A STOPPED VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE DID A HARD BRAKE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. I TOOK IT TO OUR SHOP AND THE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE SENSOR MISTOOK AN OVERHEAD INTERSTATE SIGN FOR A STOPPED VEHICLE. AGAIN, THE WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS AND A HARD BRAKE. KENWORTH TECHS WERE SENT OUT TO OUR SHOP TO MAKE REPAIRS. EVERY ONE OF OUR DRIVERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME, THEY WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED MY TRAILER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
This truck was breaking automatically, and no one was front of the truck, it was scary, I almost crashed with loaded trailer on my back, it has done it multiple times, and my traction light and stability light is on all the time and adaptive cruise control had turned off completely abs light comes on and off frequently,
ON SUNDAY, THE 22ND OF MARCH, I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON US HWY 45. THE SKY WAS CLEARING AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. I HAD MY CRUISE SET TO 65 MPH. AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS, THE DISTANCE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK MISTOOK THE SHADOW OF THE OVERPASS AS A STOPPED VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE DID A HARD BRAKE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. I TOOK IT TO OUR SHOP AND THE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE SENSOR MISTOOK AN OVERHEAD INTERSTATE SIGN FOR A STOPPED VEHICLE. AGAIN, THE WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS AND A HARD BRAKE. KENWORTH TECHS WERE SENT OUT TO OUR SHOP TO MAKE REPAIRS. EVERY ONE OF OUR DRIVERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME, THEY WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED MY TRAILER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .