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1987-2025 · 39 model years

Kenworth T800 Problems by year

Owners have filed 32 complaints about the Kenworth T800 across 39 model years, and it has 139 recalls. The 2008 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (1), while 1994 has far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the electrical system, followed by the brakes.

Share your T800 experienceCompare years139 recalls
Most complaints for its age20081 complaint · 25 recallsSee the 2008
Complaints
32
Recalls
139
Crashes
6
Fires
7
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

T800 complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20250100-B
20240400-D
20230500-C
20220500-C
20210500-C
20200900-C
20190800-C
201811100-C
20170800-C
201611210Wheels & tiresD
201501200-C
201401200-C
20130800-C
201211000Visibility & wipersC
201101300-C
201011101-C
200921910Electrical systemD
200812500Fuel systemF
200712100Equipment & accessoriesF
200641303Electrical systemD
200531201Body, doors & structureD
200431212Electrical systemD
20031700LightsB
20020600-B
200111000BrakesC
200011000Electrical systemC
199941200SuspensionD
19981800BrakesC
19971900Engine & coolingC
19961810-C
19952520SteeringB
19942300BrakesA
19930100-A
19920100-A
19910400-A
19900300-A
19890300-A
19880200-A
19870200-A

Most common T800 problems

Kenworth T800 recalls 139

Latest T800 complaints

1996 Kenworth T800Other & unknownCrash

See attached document for complaint.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11645340
2018 Kenworth T800Other & unknown

Ehaust ' brackets attaching the exhaust pipes to cab have rubber bushings that disintegrate quickly, within a couple of months leaving the pipes hanging with possibility of falling into the roadways and causing accidents. Part number: m11-1917-004. On new (2018) vehicles they have been changed more than once. Several vehicles in fleet with same issue.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11290133
2005 Kenworth T800Suspension

Takara recall- operating dump truck on a local road at approximately 25 mph. Decelerating to a stop at a red light. As the vehicle slowed down, the light changed and as I attempted to accelerate the rear of the truck came up off the ground. When I got out to inspect what happened, the entire rear axel disconnected from the truck and was on the ground.

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 11141937
2010 Kenworth T800Other & unknownFire

Tru-flex torsional bellows pipe connecting engine turbo charger and exhaust pipe in engine compartment leaks hot exhaust gases into cab where operator is located. Hot exhaust gases escape from this frequently failing part and starts fires on nearby combustible components. Fmcsa part 393.83 2 E and g is violated. This problem extends at least to model year 2010 thru 2014 in several different forms. Operators are forced to replace these defective devices at their own expense. Some operators have experienced several...

Read the full complaint

small fires and there has been at least one fire destroying a truck. Most of these fires have been suppressed by the owner operators when they are small. These fires are especially common on trucks used for carrying logs in the up of michigan. One specific fire was reported to michigan state police and michigamme/spur fire department. The truck was traveling on a forest road at the time of the incident. Owner operators are in some cases now purchasing extra tru-flex connectors to have on hand because of the high failure rate. Exact dates of all fires is not known.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 10934408
2012 Kenworth T800Visibility & wipers

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kenworth t800. The contact received a notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v271000 (visibility) however, the recall part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure.

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10779722

Questions about the Kenworth T800

Which Kenworth T800 years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 1999 (4), 2006 (4), 2004 (3). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 2008 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which Kenworth T800 years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 1992, 1993, 1987 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other T800 years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

What are the most common Kenworth T800 problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the electrical system (7), brakes (4), engine & cooling (3) most often.

How many recalls does the Kenworth T800 have?

NHTSA lists 139 recalls across all Kenworth T800 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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