Kenworth T600 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
53 distinct recall campaigns
175,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Air is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 14 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 28.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Service Brakes, Air: 4; Tires: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 6
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2012: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Air leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10029098 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
FAILURE OF JAKE BRAKES ON 2003 KENWORTH T-600. THE JAKE BRAKES ON MY KENWORTH FAILED TO COME ON. I DIRECTED IT TO THE KENWORTH DEALERSHIP IN CARLISLE, PA. WHO AFTER MANY HOURS OF DIAGNOSISING DETERMINED THAT THE JAKE BRAKES HAD FAILED BECAUSE A WIRE HAD COME LOOSE AT THE BACK OF THE AM/FM RADIO!!!! THE BRAKES CAN FAIL BECAUSE OF A LOOSE WIRE @ THE AM/FM RADIO. GOD HELP THE POOR SOUL IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK COMING DOWN A 6% GRADE RELYING ON HIS JAKES TO SLOW HIM DOWN WHICH FAIL BECAUSE OF A LOOSE WIRE BEHIND THE RADIO. NUT!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283553 · 2009-09-10 (September 10, 2009)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KENWORTH T600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCES INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND DECREASED PARKING BRAKE HOLD CAPABILITY. HE THEN RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 09V239000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR). HOWEVER HE HAS ALREADY PAID AN EXPENSE OF $2500.00 TO REPLACE VARIOUS BRAKING COMPONENTS, AND YET THE FAILURES HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 360,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 690,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 360,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 870956 · 2000-09-19 (September 19, 2000)
CONSUMER SAID THAT HE WAS IN A REST AREA, AND THE NEXT DAY NOTICED OIL/ MELTED HUB CAP, AND LEFT STEERING AXLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SEND HIM TO THE NEAR DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED.*AK THE WORN SPINDLE CAUSED THE BEARINGS ON THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE AND LEAK OIL, WHICH SPREAD ALL OVER THE WHEEL RESULTING IN THE HUB CUP MELTING. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 870956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266609 · 2009-04-24 (April 24, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KENWORTH T600. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH IN LIGHT RAIN, SNOW AND HEAVY WIND WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE STRONG WIND PUSHED THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE, BEGIN SLIDING DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACTS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEELS AND WAS CUT BY BROKEN GLASS. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO KICK THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW OUT TO ESCAPE FROM VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. DURING THE CRASH, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,241 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266609 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2003: 5; 2004: 10; 2005: 8; 2006: 8; 2007: 13; 2008: 11; 2009: 5; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 2 | Not available |
| 1991 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1996 | 0 | 5 | +4 |
| 1997 | 1 | 4 | -1 |
| 1998 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 9 | +5 |
| 2000 | 0 | 7 | -2 |
| 2001 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 5 | -2 |
| 2003 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 10 | +5 |
| 2005 | 4 | 8 | -2 |
| 2006 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 | 13 | +5 |
| 2008 | 1 | 11 | -2 |
| 2009 | 0 | 5 | -6 |
| 2010 | 0 | 1 | -4 |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 | Not available |
| 2017 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 2018 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 1 | 0 |