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2016 Kenworth C500 Problems, complaints & recalls

No owner complaints about the 2016 Kenworth C500 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in February 2024 for the reservoir / tank.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical C500 year, for its age

Complaints
0
Recalls
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

2016 Kenworth C500 recalls 3

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

Service brakes: reservoir / tank

24V145000936 vehicles affected

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.

Engine and engine cooling: diesel

18V55500011,429 vehicles affected

The problem
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Kenworth C500, T660, T800, and W900 vehicles, equipped with 1.9M ISX15 engines. The engine harnesses may have been manufactured without check engine light (CEL) and stop engine light (SEL) circuits, preventing the driver from being warned of a serious engine problem.
The risk
If the driver is not warned of a serious engine problem, the engine may unexpectedly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect or test the ISX15 engine harness, and install an overlay jumper harness to supply the missing CEL and SEL circuits, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWE.

Visibility: motor

15V271000104,807 vehicles affected

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.

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No complaints about the 2016 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

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20200100-A
20190400-D
20180500-D
20170400-C
20160300-C
20150300-C
20140400-C
20130200-B
20121300Wheels & tiresC
All C500 years

2016 Kenworth C500 vs rivals

VehicleComplaintsRecallsCrashesGrade
2016 Kenworth C500030C
2016 Kenworth T6806160CCompare
2016 Kenworth T8802150CCompare
2016 Kenworth T8001121DCompare

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.

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Questions about the 2016 Kenworth C500

Does the 2016 Kenworth C500 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Kenworth C500: reservoir / tank (February 2024); diesel (August 2018); motor (May 2015). 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 2016 Kenworth C500 had?

None have been filed with NHTSA so far.

Is the 2016 Kenworth C500 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 52 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as 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?
What should I do if my 2016 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

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