RoadVitals

1997 Kenworth T800

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
1
Latest May 23, 2010
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.
9
Latest Jul 9, 2003
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.
0
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1997 Kenworth T800, most frequently naming the heating & air conditioning, engine and fuel system categories. 9 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 9 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Heating & air conditioning116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%
  • Steering116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

9 campaigns cover this model year

View all 9

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
03V245000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jul 9, 2003
18 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES ON THE C8.3G AND L10G ENGINES, THE ECM DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETECT A THROTTLE FAIL-SAFE ENGINE SHUTDOWN COMMAND. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNANTICIPATED, UNCOMMANDED OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING.
The risk: IF THIS EVENT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE SPEED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ECM. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
03V126000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Mar 31, 2003
45 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR P 18X7 BRAKES WITH 36" BRAKE CHAMBERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE TRUCKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A COMBINED AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME LESS THAN 12 TIMES THE COMBINED VOLUME OF ALL SERVICE BRAKE CHAMBERS.
The risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL TANK OR CHANGE ONE OF THE EXISTING AIR TANKS TO A LARGER SIZE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 03KW3View on NHTSA.gov
01V293002

WHEELS:HUB

Nov 8, 2001
14 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH ARVINMERITOR FRONT AXLE FF-981. THE WHEEL SEPARATOR PLATES ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH SKF PHASE IV TRUCK HUB UNITS INCORPORATED INTO THE ARVINMERITOR FF-981 FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED ON VEHICLES WITH WHEEL MOUNTING FLANGES OF 10 MM OR LESS AND BRAKE DRUM MOUNTING FLANGES OF 6 MM OR LESS.
The risk: THE COMBINATION OF COMPONENTS COULD REDUCE THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE FRONT HUB, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE. IF A HUB FRACTURES, VEHICLE CONTROL, BRAKING, AND STABILITY CAN BE AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES, THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE FRONT HUBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.
PACCAR, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Heating & air conditioningEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed May 23, 2010

I WORK FOR [XXX]. THEY ARE MAKING ME DRIVE THE TRUCK UNSAFE WITHOUT HAVING ANY MAINTENANCE DONE TO THE TRUCK AND RUNNING OVER THE HOURS FROM 12-20 HOURS A DAY. IF THEY I DON'T TAKE THE LOADS THEY TELL ME TO TAKE OR I AM FIRED AND I CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO WORK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10331841
Incident
May 23, 2010

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

02-160

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Information Only – Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.

32-015

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.

32-016

EQUIPMENT

Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.

01-075

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.

TIB-13-040

SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

KENWORTH: SOME TRUCKS FAILED TO MEET COMPANY STANDARDS FOR AIR VOLUME LIFT AXLE AND THE COMPANY WILL INCREASE AIR VOLUME FOR WORTHWHILE IMPROVEMENT TO EXCEED GOVERNMENT FMVSS 121. MODEL T800, W900. *PE

TIB-E-055

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

KENWORTH: OIL COLLECTION AT CAC INTAKE PIPE IS CAUSED BY AN IMBALANCE IN TURBOCHARGER PRESSURES. MODELS T660, T800, T700, AND W900. *PE

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 T800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025010—
2024040—
2023010—
2022010—
2021010—
2020090—
2019080—
20181110—
2017080—
20161120—
20150120—
20140120—
2013080—
20121100—
20111130—
20101110—
20092191—
20081252—
20071213—
20064132—
20053121—
20043120—
2003170—
2002060—
20011100—
20001100—
19994120—
1998180—
1997Viewing190—
1996180—
1995250—
1994230—
1993010—
1992010—
1991040—
1990030—
1989030—
1988020—
1987020—
1986000—

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.