2001 Kenworth T300: complaints, problems and recalls

FRONT END SHIMMIES AT 45 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899248 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT END SHIMMIES AT 45 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALER IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899250 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-06-12 (June 12, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVING AN INTENDED SERVICE CODE OF "FIRE SERVICE" AND EITHER TYPE 24 OR LARGER FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS OR TYPE 36 REAR BRAKE CHAMBERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A COMBINED AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME LESS THAN 12 TIMES THE COMBINED VOLUME OF ALL SERVICE CHAMBERS.

Consequence: UNUSUALLY FREQUENT APPLICATIONS OF THE AIR BRAKES COULD DEPLETE THE AVAILABLE AIR SUPPLY MORE QUICKLY THAN EXPECTED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL AIR TANK ON CHASSIS WITH A SINGLE REAR AXLE. ON TANDEM REAR AXLE CHASSIS, DEALER WILL REPLACE AN EXISTING AIR TANK WITH A LARGER AIR TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.

Reported: 2001-08-23 (August 23, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 10,000 OR 12,000 POUND DANA FRONT AXLES. A CONDITION CALLED BRAKE "SPRAG", WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY A NOISE AT THE END OF AN APPLIED STOP, CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS NOISE IS THE RESULT OF A PULSATION OF THE BRAKE LINING WITH THE BRAKE DRUM DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. THESE NOISE VIBRATIONS OCCUR AT THE RESONANT FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT AXLE CROSS-TUBE ASSEMBLY AND CAUSE UNUSUALLY HIGH STRAIN FORCES IN THE THREADED PORTION OF THE TIE ROD ENDS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE CROSS-TUBE.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE TIE ROD END CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LINING ON THE FRONT AXLE OF EACH VEHICLE WITH A LINING MADE OF A DIFFERENT COMPOSITION. IN ADDITION, THE TIE ROD ENDS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 12, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.

Reported: 2001-09-26 (September 26, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS." THE MODE DOOR IN AN HVAC SYSTEM CAN BECOME INOPERABLE. THE MODE DOOR CAM AND ACTUATOR COULD BIND, CAUSING THE CAM RETAINING TABS TO SHEAR OFF.

Consequence: THIS FAILURE MAY INHIBIT THE ABILITY TO DIRECT AIR BLOWING FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM TO THE WINDSHIELD, POTENTIALLY REDUCING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MODE DOOR OPERATION AND REPLACE THE HVAC CAB MODE HOUSING ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.

Reported: 2002-01-15 (January 15, 2002)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PNEUMATIC ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) VALVE PACKAGES, THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THESE VALVE PACKAGES WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: BOLTS TORQUED BELOW SPECIFICATION WILL NOT RELIABLY PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE AT THE AFFECTED ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS ONCE THE COMPONENT BEGINS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. IF AIR LEAKS DEVELOP AT ANY OF THE ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS, BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE REDUCTIONS COULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING OR NORMAL OPERATION WITH UNITS EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION, POTENTIALLY EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.

Reported: 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.

Consequence: IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. PETERBILT'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. KENWORTH'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.