- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2009-2021 Kenworth C500, 2012-2021 Kenworth T440, 2009-2015 Kenworth T660, 2015-2024 Kenworth T680, 2009-2024 Kenworth T800, 2009-2020 Kenworth T370, 2014-2023 Kenworth T880, 2011-2016 Kenworth T470, 2023 Kenworth T480, and 2009-2019 Kenworth W900 vehicles. The air tanks have an insufficient volume of air for the brake system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- The risk
- Insufficient air volume can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will install the correct volume air tanks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 12, 2024. Additional owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2025. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 24KWD.
Vehicle safety record
2011 Kenworth C500 Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2011 Kenworth C500 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 6 recalls, the latest in February 2024 for the reservoir / tank.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical C500 year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2011 Kenworth C500 recalls 6
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, C500, C540, C550, T660, T800, W900, and 963 trucks manufactured November 1, 2010, to April 6, 2015. In the affected trucks, water may leak into the wiper motor.
- The risk
- As water leaks in, the wiper may cease to function on the 'intermittent' setting, reducing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the water may cause corrosion which, over time, may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- PACCAR is still developing and testing a remedy. The recall is expected to begin in July 2015. An interim letter was sent to owners on July 2, 2015. The recall began on September 2, 1015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 15KWF.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 kenworth c500, t2000, t600, and t660, as well as model year 2009-2011 peterbilt 387 and 388 trucks equipped with caterpillar c15 engine and manufactured from may 11, 2006, through september 17, 2010. Degradation of a combustion tube weld can cause radial heat impingement on the body which may burn through certain bodies used on c15 engines.
- The risk
- THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- The fix
- Caterpillar is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Please see caterpillar's defect report 11e-006. Caterpillar will replace the single piece combustion tube with a thick wall combustion tube which will not allow the heat to break through. This service will be performed free of charge. Due to a parts supply issue, owners will be notified by the end of april 2011 about the safety defect, and will then be notified again once the free remedy is available, currently estimated to be around late july 2011. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1-800-447-4986.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 kenworth t270/370, t440/t470, t800, t660, w900 and c500 vehicles manufactured between october 18, 2010, and january 28, 2011. Certain cast iron slack adjuster housings, which transmit braking force from the brake chamber push rod to the brake cam tube, may include a flow notch in the handle portion of the housing due to an error during the casting process. A flow notch in the handle portion may reduce the effective cross section structure and cause the slack adjuster housing to fracture.
- The risk
- If the slack adjuster housing were to fracture, the wheel brake to which the slack adjuster housing is attached would no longer function, which could increase vehicle stopping distances, and if mounted on the steer axle, could cause the vehicle to pull to one side during braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the slack adjuster housing as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 30, 2011. Owners may contact kenworth at 425-828-5440.
- The problem
- Kenworth is recalling certain model year 2011 t660, t800, w900, c500, t440, and t470 vehicles manufactured from april 1, 2009, through august 30, 2010. One of the four harness spade terminal connections to the chassis load center may become completely unseated. A completely unseated connection may result in a power loss to a portion of the vehicle's exterior lighting.
- The risk
- Power loss of the vehicle's exterior lighting may reduce the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers increasing the risk of a crash with the vehicle.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the harness and re-seating the female connectors on the male spade terminals. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 29, 2010. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.
- The problem
- Kenworth is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2011 c500 trucks manufactured from october 24, 2008 through january 13, 2010. During maneuvers with certain combinations of wheel turn, articulation, and bump, the brake chamber can contact the rear hood support.
- The risk
- The contact can damage the brake chamber leading to a loss of braking function at the affected wheel end, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Kenworth will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 8, 2010. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2011 Kenworth C500 yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Kenworth C500: every year compared
All C500 years2011 Kenworth C500 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Kenworth C500 | 0 | 6 | D | |
| 2011 Kenworth T660 | 1 | 13 | D | Compare |
| 2011 Kenworth T700 | 1 | 7 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2011 Kenworth C500
Does the 2011 Kenworth C500 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2011 Kenworth C500: reservoir / tank (February 2024); motor (May 2015); engine and engine cooling (March 2011); slack adjusters (March 2011) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2011 Kenworth C500 had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2011 Kenworth C500 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 28 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Kenworth C500 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Kenworth C500 years have the most complaints?
1999 (1), 2006 (1), 2007 (1). See every Kenworth C500 year compared.
What should I do if my 2011 Kenworth C500 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data