1998 Kenworth W900 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 1998 Kenworth W900, 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
- Body & structure250.0%
- Electrical125.0%
- Fuel system125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
REFERENCE VOQ#10259426. I FILED A COMPLAINT IN FEBRUARY 2009 FOR A FRAME RAIL THAT CRACKED ON MY 1998 KENWORTH W900. I SPENT $11,470 TO HAVE THE RAIL REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED KENWORTH DEALER. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW, WITH NO EXTRAS OR ADD-ONS SINCE OWNING THE TRUCK. ALL SERVICING HAS BEEN DONE AT AUTHORIZED KENWORTH REPAIR FACILITIES AND I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL DOT/CVSA INSPECTIONS; THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IN DECEMBER 2010, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER FRAME RAIL CRACK IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LOCATION AS THE FIRST, BEHIND THE REAR SHACKLE OF THE FRONT SPRING. THIS TIME THE ENGINE SHIFTED AND FORCED THE FAN INTO THE RADIATOR. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FRAME SHOP WHERE THE RAIL WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE TECH THERE SAID HE HAD JUST DONE ANOTHER RAIL ON A PETERBUILT OF THE SAME VINTAGE AND FELT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED SO QUICKLY ON MY TRUCK, PLUS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE WITH OTHER KENWORTH/PETERBUILT TRACTORS. UPDATED 03/09/12 *BF *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KENWORTH W900. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HOOD WAS KNOCKING ON THE MAIN CAB AND WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CHASSIS WAS CRACKED AND DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 158,117. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB UPDATED 05/03/12. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL LINE CHAFED A HOLE, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. A RECALL WAS ORDERED ON MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 98V-129000. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL LINE CHAFED A HOLE, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. A RECALL WAS ORDERED ON MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 98V-129000. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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 .