Kenworth T800 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
133 distinct recall campaigns
245,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 33 complaints (21.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 |
Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6; Tires: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2
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 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 23 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10211203 · 2007-12-08 (December 8, 2007)
A NORMAL DAY AT THE FARM I START MY TRUCK TO LET IT WARM UP. I LEAVE THE TRUCK AND COME BACK SEVERAL MINUTES LATER RELEASING MY PARKING BRAKES AND THING SEEMS NORMAL. I PULL FORWARD TOWARD A CORAL AND HIT MY BRAKES AND THERE WAS NONE. AS WAS ABOUT TO HIT CORAL I FINALLY GOT PARKING BRAKES ON. COME TO FIND OUT MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK. AND MY NEIGHBORS KENWORH TRUCK BRAKE PEDAL ALSO HAD STUCK WE HAD TO CLEAN THE BUTTON IN THE FLOORBOARDS THAT THE PEDAL PUSHES THE AIR VALVES A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM LUCKY NO CRASHES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 756,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 880371 · 2001-02-12 (February 12, 2001)
ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, ABS CAPABILITY INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062928 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS FORCED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, BECAUSE LACK OF VISIBILITY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED HEADLIGHT WIRING MELTED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398226 · 2011-04-29 (April 29, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KENWORTH T800B TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT, CAMPAIGN 04V580000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 240,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 769841 · 2002-11-18 (November 18, 2002)
THE STEERING COUPLING SEPARATED DUE TO INADEQUATE TIGHTENING OF THE TETAINING NUT AND BOLT, A FAULTY SLIP JOINT AND PERHAPS FAULTY METAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUPLING, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE PARTS. KENWORTH WILL NOT RESPOND TO OUR LETTERS. THERE IS A RECALL IN 1997 FOR THIS SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK FOR A REAR SUSPENSION BECAUSE OF MATERIALS USED IN THE SWAY BAR AND ARMS. THE STEERING ROD CAME LOOSE FROM THE FIREWALL. DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 769841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899007 · 2001-11-09 (November 9, 2001)
WHEEL BEARINGS KEEP FAILING, STEERING TIRES KEEP GETTING EATEN UP, WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO PULL TO RIGHT, WHEN THIS HAPPENS BRAKES WOULD CHATTER DUE TO A LACK OF WHEEL BEARINGS. DRUM DROPPED ON BRAKE PADS AND SHOES. BRAKE SHOES WOULD BREAK OFF.*AK *YD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118239 · 2005-04-21 (April 21, 2005)
SUDDEN FULL UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION BROUGHT ON BY A REAR END COLLISION WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. DUMP TRUCK WITH ALLISON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION TOWER BUTTONS WERE UNRESPONSIVE AND TRUCK WAS ESTIMATED BY WITNESS TO JUMP TO ALMOST IMMEDIATE 60 PLUS. DID NOT STOP UNTIL KEY WAS REMOVED. VIRGINIA DOT INSPECTION APPROX. 2 HOURS LATER FOUND NO PROBLEM AND TRUCK RESPONDED NORMALLY(EXCEPT FOR ACCIDENT DAMAGE) AFTER IT WAS RESTARTED. THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE IN THE ENGINE FOR APPROX. 2-3 SECONDS AFTER I WAS REAR ENDED AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118239 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 19; 2010: 11; 2011: 13; 2012: 10; 2013: 8; 2014: 12; 2015: 12; 2016: 12; 2017: 8; 2018: 11; 2019: 8; 2020: 9; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 4; 2025: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 | 2 | Not available |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 1990 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 | 4 | +1 |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 | -3 |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 3 | +2 |
| 1995 | 2 | 5 | +2 |
| 1996 | 1 | 8 | +3 |
| 1997 | 1 | 9 | +1 |
| 1998 | 1 | 8 | -1 |
| 1999 | 4 | 12 | +4 |
| 2000 | 1 | 10 | -2 |
| 2001 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 6 | -4 |
| 2003 | 1 | 7 | +1 |
| 2004 | 3 | 12 | +5 |
| 2005 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 13 | +1 |
| 2007 | 1 | 20 | +7 |
| 2008 | 1 | 25 | +5 |
| 2009 | 2 | 19 | -6 |
| 2010 | 1 | 11 | -8 |
| 2011 | 1 | 13 | +2 |
| 2012 | 1 | 10 | -3 |
| 2013 | 0 | 8 | -2 |
| 2014 | 0 | 12 | +4 |
| 2015 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 8 | -4 |
| 2018 | 1 | 11 | +3 |
| 2019 | 0 | 8 | -3 |
| 2020 | 0 | 9 | +1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 1 | -8 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 4 | +3 |
| 2025 | 0 | 1 | -3 |