RoadVitals

2021 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 Jan 15, 2021
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.
8
Latest Dec 9, 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 2021 Kenworth T880, most frequently naming the brakes category. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 69 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

  • Brakes1100.0%

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

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

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
24V915000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Dec 9, 2024
220,764 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
The risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24KWL 24PBLView on NHTSA.gov
24V190000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Mar 20, 2024
70,509 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.
The risk: A loss of communication between the gear shifter and the transmission may result in the vehicle becoming disabled after coming to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24PBE and 24KWE.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24PBE/24KWEView on NHTSA.gov
24V145000

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

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2021

TRACTOR ABS SYSTEM APPLIES THE BRAKES TO THE TRAILERS WHILE CORNERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ENTERING OR EXITING A HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP THE BRAKES UNTIL THE TRACTOR AND TRAILERS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THESE TRUCKS AND TRAILERS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 155,000 LBS., AND LOSING CONTROL IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE ON THE ROAD. THESE TRUCKS ARE 2021 MODELS WITH BENDIX ABS SYSTEMS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF KENWORTH (THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE) AND BENDIX (THE ABS SYSTEM MANUFACTURE). LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SENSE THE TRACTORS WERE PUT INTO SERVICE APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AGO. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP THE TRAILER BRAKES, AND THERE IS NOTHING THE DRIVER CAN DO TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHILE THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ID
11388343
Incident
Jan 15, 2021
Mileage
100 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

98-035

The new 2.1m day cab lift tools, a Level 3 mandatory tool, are now available to order.

43-086

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE

This optional software update is expected to be available after 10/30/2026 for chassis equipped with EMY 2019-2021A PACCAR MX-11 engines. This update provides customers with additional time to service their trucks before a DEF-related derate occurs. The software is being offered to customers in alignment with recently updated regulatory agency guidance.

E329

ENGINE

Certain chassis equipped with an engine model year 2019 - 2021 PACCAR MX-13 engine are eligible to receive software improvements to increase vehicle uptime and emissions fault detection. This software update is expected to be available after 10/30/2026.

42-070

Due to supplier constraints, an authorized aftermarket surge tank has been made available.

9-049

Certain Kenworth EMY 2022 T680, T880 and W990 chassis may not contain an EAS operator’s manual in the vehicle’s glovebox literature packet.

P001

ENGINE

"Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. Peterbilt: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."

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
2027030—
2026020—
2025190—
2024170—
2023070—
2022080—
2021Viewing180—
20200100—
20190100—
20183160—
20171110—
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.