2009 Kenworth T800

SummaryOn July 13, 2010, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened an investigation on model year (MY) 2007-2009 Peterbilt tractors equipped with the (SPL170XL extended lube inter-axle driveline).ODI opened this investigation based on one Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ) and certain Peterbilt field reports.During the course of the investigation, ODI reviewed PACCAR's IR (October 22, 2010) response with associated data related to Warranty and complaint information, mined field data, interviewed customers and visited local dealers within the Washington Metropolitan area.PACCARconducted testing regarding torsional loading and identified various causative factors contributed to this safety defect finding.The Defect is a consequence of the bearing surfaces of the SPL170XL extended lube universal joint that attaches the inter-axle driveline to the drive axle becoming prematurely worn due to a breakdown of lubrication and/or excessive heat.Prematurely worn bearing surfaces may result in the u-joint becoming loose and/or binding.This condition may result in universal joint failure, allowing the inter-axle driveline to detach from the axle, which may cause the drive shaft to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage hazard.ODI learned that the affected population of the alleged defect extended to peer models within PACCAR.In summary, the following vehicles are being recalled: MY 2007 and 2008 Kenworth trucks, models T600, T660, T2000, T800 and W900 and MY 2007/2008 Peterbilt trucks, models357, 378, 379, 385, 386, 387, 388, and 389 allequipped with extended lube inter-axle drivelines manufactured by Dana Corporation.The recall affects vehicles manufactured between February 2, 2006 and April 30, 2007.At this time PACCAR has not yet identified a fix for the inner-axle safety defect and is currently conducting testing with the intent to provide a solution to the failure.ODI will monitor the development of PACCARS testing and ensure a timely repair for the consumer.This investigation is closed.

I-65 SOUTH IMMEDIATELY PAST THE I-265 OFFRAMP. 55MPH ZONE DRIVING A SATURN 4 DOOR COMPACT @ 2250 HOURS IN THE RIGHT LANE. HAD ONE SEMI TAILGAITING BEHIND ME AND ANOTHER TO MY LEFT IN THE MIDDLER LANE. TRUCK FROM JWH TRANSPORT INC., ROME GA (706)234-4434 PULLING TRAIKER # 2325 WAS SPEEDING UP THE EXIT RAMP LANE TO MY RIGHT FORCEING ME AND THE SEMI TO MY LEFT AND BEHIND ME TO SUDDENLY CHANGE LANES TO THE LEFT AS THE EXIT LANE FINALLY RAN OUT . WITH OTHER TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A 5 OR 6 VEHICLE COLLISSION. THE EXIT RAMP LANE THE SPEEDING TRUCK WAS IN WAS MARKED FOR THE PREVIOUS MILE THAT IT WAS ENDING AND TO MERGE TO THE LEFT. HAVE TO WONDER IF THIS DRIVER WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR TO IMPAIRED FROM A LACK OF SLEEP TO EXECUTE THE PROPER JUDGEMENT THAT WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ENTIRE SITUATION. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I CAN BE CONTATCED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10328313

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

A TRACTOR UPDATE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED BY KENWORTH EARLY IN 2009 THAT INVOLVED THE 2008 T-800 TRACTORS. THE UPDATE REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF A 150 A "MEGAFUSE" INTO THE MAIN POSITIVE CONDUCTOR SUPPLYING ALL TRACTOR ELECTRICAL POWER (NOT TO THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID). SINCE THE "MEGAFUSE" WAS INSTALLED INLINE, OPENING OF THE FUSE EFFECTIVELY DE-ENERGIZED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TRACTOR INCLUDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FURTHER, ALL SIGNAL, WARNING, VISIBILITY AND HEAD LIGHTS CEASED OPERATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY (AND THE REASON FOR THIS REPORT), WITH IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF THE DIESEL ENGINE, ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING CAPABILITIES ARE ELIMINATED. WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, A TRACTOR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. WE INVESTIGATED JUST SUCH AN OCCURRENCE FOR ONE OF OUR CLIENTS. HISTORICALLY, OUR TRUCKING COMPANY CLIENT HAS NOW RECORDED TWO SUCH ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH ONE RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHILE BACKING INTO A LOADING DOCK AT LOW SPEED. THE SECOND OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A NORTHERN ONTARIO HIGHWAY CURVE AT NIGHT. THE SECOND FUSE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH AS THE DRIVER COULD NOT NEGOTIATE THE CURVE IN THE DARK, WITHOUT THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING (FAR NORTHERN ONTARIO). THE MEGAFUSE IS HOUSED WITHIN THE KENWORTH BATTERY BOX, LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE LEFT SIDE FUEL SADDLE TANK. AT PRESENT, WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE MEGAFUSE OPENING (FAILURE). PRELIMINARY HYPOTHESIS INCLUDED INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL FAULT(S) WITHIN THE MAIN SUPPLY CONDUCTOR OR MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE MEGAFUSE DUE TO VIBRATION DAMAGE. ASIDE FROM THE FAILURE MECHANISM OF THE FUSE, IT IS OUR ENGINEERING OPINION THAT A FUSE THAT NULLIFIES THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE TRACTOR OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS THAT MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A MISDIRECTED TRACTOR-TRAILER COMBINATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275222

Incident

Apr 4, 2009

Mileage

383,901 mi

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.

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

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.

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

Information Only – Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to water intrusion and corrosion in some vehicles.

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