2004 Kenworth T2000: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH LOST STEERING CONTROL AND VEHICLE WANDERED ACROSS THE ROAD. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 895 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094799 at NHTSA ↗

2004 KENWORTH T2000 RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. *TS THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED TO DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT STEER TIRE, HOOD, RIGHT FRONT RIM, RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND SIGNALS AND RIGHT REARVIEW MIRROR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146490 at NHTSA ↗

APPARENTLY, CERTAIN TURBO CHARGERS INSTALLED ON THE CAT C-15, EITHER ORIGINALLY OR AS A REPLACEMENT, HAVE A FACTORY-INSTALLED DEVICE IN THE CASING THAT SEALS A HOLE WHERE AN OPTIONAL 'EMISSIONS SENSOR' WOULD OTHERWISE BE LOCATED. ON MY TRUCK THIS PLUG DEVICE BLEW OUT, LEAVING A 1.5 INCH-DIAMETER HOLE IN THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE TURBO. THE HOLE IN THE TURBO CASING EMITTED RAW TOXIC EXHAUST FUMES DIRECTLY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAB. THIS DISCHARGE OVERHEATED ADJACENT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FIREWALL. SURFACES ON THE P…

Owner-reported narrative. 615,030 miles reported. Look up ODI 10960072 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BRACKET, USED TO SUPPORT THE BATTERY BOX AND STEP, CAN CRACK.

Consequence: A CRACK IN THE BRACKET MAY LEAD TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRACKET CAUSING THE STEP TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL STEPS ON IT, CAUSING A FALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE BATTERY BOX SUPPORT BRACKET AND STEP SUPPORT BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE POWER FEED HARNESS P92-1993 TERMINALS WERE NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS AFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN JANUARY 13, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2004-12-23 (December 23, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, A LOCKING TAB IN THE HOOD LOCK CYLINDER WAS IMPROPERLY LOCATED PREVENTING THE CYLINDER LOCK FROM ENGAGING. THE HOOD LOCK CYLINDER IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE HOOD ONCE IT IS RAISED FOR ACCESS TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence: IF THE LOCK DOES NOT ENGAGE THIS COULD RESULT IN THE HOOD CLOSING WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO SOMEONE WORKING UNDER THE HOOD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD LOCK CYLINDER AND REMOVE AND REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE HOOD LOCK CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN JANUARY 23, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2005-04-28 (April 28, 2005)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE SUSPENSION HAS TRANSVERSE BEAM CASTINGS THAT MAY FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL LOADS. IF A CASTING BREAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON A ROADWAY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR PIECES OF THE CASTING TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND THE SUSPENSION'S TRANSVERSE BEAM MAY DROP DOWN LOW ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE SPARKS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 10, 2005, WITH LETTERS BEING MAILED TO PETERBILT OWNERS; AND ON JUNE 17, 2005, FOR KENWORTH OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PACCAR, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440, OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Reported: 2008-09-24 (September 24, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 130 MY 2004-2009 T2000, T800, T600, W900 AND T660 KENWORTH TRUCKS BUILT WITH AN AG400 REAR SUSPENSION, LONG STROKE BRAKE CHAMBERS, AND WIDE BASE TIRES (SUPER SINGLES). THESE VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP AN INCREASE IN LATERAL AND VERTICAL AXLE MOVEMENT. THIS MOVEMENT MAY CAUSE PART OR PARTS OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY (BRAKE CAM TUBE SUPPORT, BRAKE CHAMBER BRACKET, BRAKE CHAMBER, BRAKE SPIDER) TO DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE PART OR PARTS WITHIN THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: A FAILURE MAY REDUCE VEHICLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CAM TUBE SUPPORT BRACKETS ON ALL OF THE REAR AXLE WHEEL ENDS. INSPECT THE REAR AXLE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT IF CRACKED. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2009-06-30 (June 30, 2009)

KENWORTH IS RECALLING 3,423 MY 2004-2009 T2000, T800,T600, W900 AND T660 VEHICLES. INCREASED BRAKE EXCITATION IN A CERTAIN VEHICLE CONFIGURATION WHICH INCLUDES BENDIX DRUM BRAKES, WIDE BASE LOW PROFILE SINGLE TIRES, AND AN AG400 OR AG460 REAR SUSPENSION, DUE TO ITS UNIQUE BRAKE CLOCKING AND CAM TUBE LENGTH, CAN CAUSE FATIGUE AND CRACKING TO BRAKE ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS.

Consequence: CRACKING CAN CAUSE A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE CAM TUBE, WHICH COULD INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE AND DECREASE PARKING BRAKE HOLD CAPABILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE BRAKES ASSEMBLY, REPLACE CRACKED REAR AXLE BRAKES ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS WHERE REQUIRED, AND INSTALL CAM TUBE SUPPORT BRACKETS ON ALL REAR AXLE WHEEL ENDS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OR BEFORE JULY 25, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.