2008 Kenworth T300: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-03-02 (March 2, 2007)

CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE TRAILER LIGHT LINE MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED USING TOO TIGHT OF A BEND RADIUS. THIS ROUTING METHOD COULD CAUSE THE WIRES WITHIN THE HARNESS PLUG TO BE PULLED AWAY FROM THE CHASSIS PLUG RESULTING IN AN INTERMITTENT OR COMPLETE ELECTRICAL POWER LOSS TO THE TRAILER.

Consequence: SHOULD POWER BE LOST, THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WOULD NOT PROVIDE POWER TO THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM ON THE TOWED VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE LIGHT LINE TO ELIMINATE THE EXCESSIVE BEND RADIUS AND REPLACE ANY PLUG OR HARNESS THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2007. OWNER MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2007-03-16 (March 16, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WIRING, PARTS, OR TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING REQUIRED FOR THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED WERE EITHER NOT INSTALLED, CONNECTED, OR PROGRAMMED PROPERLY.

Consequence: IF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN LEFT IN DRIVE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE WITHOUT WARNING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO ENSURE THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND, IF NEEDED, WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2007-03-22 (March 22, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE AXLE HOUSINGS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH STEEL THAT WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FATIGUE FAILURE OVER TIME.

Consequence: IF A FATIGUE FAILURE OCCURS AND IS LEFT UNATTENDED, THE AXLE MAY LOCK UP OR THE END OF THE AXLE COULD COME OFF, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE AXLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2007-05-21 (May 21, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISC OR PACCAR PX8 ENGINES, THE JUMPER WIRE BETWEEN THE GRID HEATER RELAY TO THE FUSE BLOCK HAS BEEN ROUTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR IT TO RUB AGAINST THE RADIATOR SUPPORT.

Consequence: THE SUSPECT WIRE IS DOWN STREAM OF THE FUSE; THIS CHAFF POINT COULD CAUSE THE 250 AMP CHARGE WIRE TO ARC, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROUTING OF THE JUMPER WIRE. IF THE WIRE IS NOT ROUTED CORRECTLY, IT WILL BE INSPECTED FOR RUBBING OR CHAFFING AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

Reported: 2008-01-08 (January 8, 2008)

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON SYNFLEX ECLIPSE BRAND EXTRUDED NYLON AIR BRAKE HOSE TUBING FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THE TUBING WAS MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY FOUR LAYERS OF NYLON MATERIAL, INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED FIVE LAYERS.

Consequence: THE DIAMETER OF THE HOSE AFFECTS THE FITTINGS WHICH MAY ALLOW AIR TO LEAK FROM THE BRAKES AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BRAKE HOSES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2008. OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2008-02-07 (February 7, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 6,169 MY 2008 KENWORTH T300, T660, T800, T2000, W900 AND C500 VEHICLES AND MY 2008-2009 PETERBILT MODELS 365, 367, 384, 387, 388, 389 AND 389 KITS. CERTAIN DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS." THE ROTOR IN SOME OF THESE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER HEAT TREATMENT AND MAY BE SOFT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, FORCE COULD CAUSE THE ROTOR TO CRACK AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT HAVE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY CLOSING SECURITY WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO INJURY OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH TRIMARK AND WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH IF IT IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2009-09-03 (September 3, 2009)

PACCAR IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 KENWORTH T300, T270, AND T370, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 T800 AND PETERBILT MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 335, 340, AND 367 VEHICLES BUILT ON CUMMINS' DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLES MAY BE DESIGNED WITH A HARD WIRED, DASH-MOUNTED SWITCH THAT ENABLES THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO INHIBIT AFTERTREATMENT DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER REGENERATION IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES IT MAY BE UNSAFE FOR ELEVATED EXHAUST TEMPERATURES. DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE LOGIC IN THE ECM SOFTWARE IN THESE ENGINES, THE SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LEADING THE OPERATOR TO BELIEVE THAT THE SWITCH IS IN "INHIBIT" MODE WHEN IT IS NOT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL PERMIT HOT EXHAUST GASES TO EXIT THE VEHICLE TAILPIPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF MELTING OR BURNING OF NEARBY SURFACES, OR A FIRE.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE PLEASE SEE 09E-046. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS (1-800-343-7357).