2012 Kenworth T440 problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: 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

Risk: Insufficient air volume can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

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.

Defect: Osco Tank & Truck Sales, Inc. (Osco Tank & Truck Sales) recalling certain emergency vehicles built on 2018 Peterbilt 348 and 2012 Kenwoth T440 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Osco Tank & Truck Sales will notify owners and dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact Osco Tank & Truck Sales customer service at 1-309-526-3636.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Kenworth T440, T470, T660, T680, and T880 trucks manufactured January 14, 2010, to May 22, 2015, and equipped with HID Headlamps and the option for Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). The DRLs are required to deactivate when the hazard warning lights are activated, however, the DRLs on these vehicles override the hazard flashing functionality after the brake pedal is pushed for more than two seconds. Normal hazard flashing functio

Risk: If the hazard warning lamps are overridden by the DRL, oncoming vehicles may fail to be warned, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kenworth will notify owners, and dealers will update the cab controller software, free of charge. The recall began on September 167, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. Kenworth's number for this recall is 15KWL.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2010-2016 Kenworth T440, T800, and W900 trucks manufactured August 31, 2009, to April 20, 2015, and 2008-2015 Peterbilt 320, 337, 348, 365, 382, and 384 trucks manufactured July 27, 2007, to April 28, 2015, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil

Risk: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Fix: Cummins will notify owners on behalf of PACCAR, and Cummins service centers will administer the repairs which include securing the ends of the 90-degree elbow and reprogramming the electronic control module (ECM) with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000, Peterbilt customer service at 1-940

Defect: 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.

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.

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.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2011-2014 model year Kenworth T440 vehicles manufactured March 10, 2010, through September 23, 2013 and equipped with Allison transmissions, Cummins Westport ISL-G engines, and NAMUX2 software. In the affected vehicles, the engine harness may have been installed incorrectly rendering the neutral start interlock inoperable.

Risk: If the engine harness is installed incorrectly, the truck may be able to be started with the transmission in gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the connection on the engine harness, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early March 2014. Customers may contact PACCAR at 1-425-468-7400. Paccar's number for this recall is 14KWA.

Defect: PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012-2013 KENWORTH T170, T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T700, T800, W900, AND PETERBILT 320, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, AND 587 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 31, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 19, 2012, AND EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX ATR-6 ANTILOCK TRACTION RELAY VALVES. IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS, THESE BENDIX RELAY VALVES MAY POTENTIALLY DEVELOP INTERNAL LEAKAGE. INTERNAL LEAKAGE CAN LEAD TO AIR PRESSURE BEING DELIVERED TO AFFECTED PRIMAR

Risk: UNEXPECTED CONTINUOUS BRAKE APPLICATION CAN CAUSE THE BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND LEAD TO A FIRE. UNEXPECTED CONTINUOUS BRAKE APPLICATION CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO, THE BRAKES MAY BE APPLIED WITHOUT ILLUMINATING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, FAILING TO GIVE PROPER WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS.

Fix: PACCAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND PROVIDE A TEMPORARY REPAIR UNTIL BENDIX DEVELOPS A PERMANENT REMEDY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 10, 2012. OWNER MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Defect: PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 KENWORTH T440 TRACTORS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 18, 2010, AND FEBRUARY 9, 2011 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE QUICK RELEASE AIR VALVE REQUIRED IN THE FULL TRUCK SERVICE BRAKE AIR LINE GLADHAND CONNECTION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE OMISSION OF THE QUICK RELEASE AIR VALVE MAY ALLOW THE FULL TRUCK SERVICE BRAKE AIR LINE GLADHAND RELEASE TIMING TO EXCEED THE THRESHOLD OF 0

Risk: THE SERVICE BRAKE OF A TOWED VEHICLE OR TRAILER MAY HAVE A DELAYED RELEASE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: KENWORTH DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE QUICK RELEASE AIR VALVE IN THE FULL TRUCK SERVICE BRAKE AIR LINE WITH GLADHAND CONNECTION. ALL OF THE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED, THEREFORE, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PACCAR AT 1-425-468-7400.

Defect: 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 CA

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.

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.