RoadVitals

2017 Kenworth T880

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 Jun 1, 2019
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.
11
Latest Feb 23, 2024
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 2017 Kenworth T880, most frequently naming the exterior lighting category. 11 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 71 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

  • Exterior lighting1100.0%

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

11 campaigns cover this model year

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

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

Feb 23, 2024
936 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2009-2021 Kenworth C500, 2012-2021 Kenworth T440, 2009-2015 Kenworth T660, 2015-2024 Kenworth T680, 2009-2024 Kenworth T800, 2009-2020 Kenworth T370, 2014-2023 Kenworth T880, 2011-2016 Kenworth T470, 2023 Kenworth T480, and 2009-2019 Kenworth W900 vehicles. The air tanks have an insufficient volume of air for the brake system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: Insufficient air volume can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will install the correct volume air tanks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 12, 2024. Additional owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2025. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 24KWD.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24KWDView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Dec 29, 2021
1,107 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles. The methane detection system will not function if the system loses power.
The risk: The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.
The remedy: Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220, and Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWH and 21PBN.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 21KWH and 21PBNView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

Apr 6, 2020
460,515 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
The risk: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 20pbc AND 20KWBView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 2019

TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO CONTINUE TO FLASH EVEN AFTER SELECTED. DASH INDICATOR LIGHT WILL RAPID FLASH BUT NOTHING OUTSIDE THE TRACTOR OR THE TRAILERS WILL ILLUMINATE. TRACTOR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THEY "REFLASH" THE TRUCK CAB CONTROL COMPUTER BUT THAT HAS NEVER YET FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER MECHANICS AND TECHS SIMPLY SHRUG AND SAY IT IS A "KENWORTH THING" AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE COMPANY I WORK FOR HAS TWO OF THESE TRACTORS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS ONLY ONE NUMBER APART AND BOTH TRACTORS HAVE THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES THE TRACTOR WILL RUN SEVERAL DAYS AND NEVER FAIL TO ILLUMINATE THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THEN IT WILL SUDDENLY FAIL AGAIN. USUALLY THE TURN SIGNALS FLASH A FEW TIMES AND THEN BEGIN THE RAPID FLASH SEQUENCE AND STOP WORKING. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH SURROUNDING MOTORIST NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT I STILL INTEND TO BEGIN OR COMPLETE A TURN BUT THEY GET CONFUSED BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING. SOMETIMES SELECTING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WILL GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. SOMETIMES PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ILLUMINATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS (IF NOT ALREADY PRESSED) WILL GET THEM FLASHING AGAIN. VEHICLE CAN BE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, PULLING ONE TRAILER OR TWO (I USUALLY PULL DOUBLES OR TWO TRAILERS). I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER T880 KENWORTH DRIVERS FROM OTHER COMPANIES AND THEY TOO HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM. DEALER IS MICHIGAN KENWORTH GRAND RAPIDS MI. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND 219000 MILES. I HAVE WRITTEN IT UP ON OUR DVIR FORMS AND IT HAS YET TO BE CORRECTED. OUR SHOP DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM LIKE THIS. OF COURSE IT NEVER FAILS IN THE SHOP DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE.

NHTSA ID
11217273
Incident
May 30, 2019
Mileage
219,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

E311

ENGINE

The Condition, Chassis Affected, Service Action, Warranty, and Procedure sections have been updated to include the latest prognostics bulletin verbiage.

26-035

POWER TRAIN

Updated Eaton's TAIB0885EN Bulletin link.

02-177

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

45-070

ENGINE

The attached procedures document has been updated with more detail and explanations. This is not a stand-alone procedure. Cummins Quickserve troubleshooting will specify the use of these procedures while troubleshooting specific fault codes.

14-034

Bogie Crossmember Torque Value Update - Procedure has been updated to correct torque values.

E326

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE

EPA17-24 MX Fuel Injector Connector - This bulletin has been revised to include all EPA17-24 and CARB24 PACCAR MX engines.

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 T880 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010
2026020
2025090
2024170
2023070
2022080
2021180
20200100
20190100
20183160
2017Viewing1110
20162150
20150120
20141120
2013070
2012030
2011020

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.