2017 Kenworth T680 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (6) · Vehicle Speed Control (1) · Tires (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kenworth T680 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (11)
Service Brakes, Air:supply:reservoir/Tank 2024-02-23 · campaign 24V145000 · 936 vehicles
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.
Electrical System:wiring 2021-12-29 · campaign 21V00N000 · 1,107 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles. The methane detection system will not function if the system loses power.
Risk: The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.
Fix: Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220, and Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWH and 21PBN.
Service Brakes, Air:antilock 2020-09-28 · campaign 20V593000 · 1,416 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Kenworth T680 trucks equipped with a 2.1m Cab and WABCO 6S/6M ABS brake system with drum brakes. The brake systems were manufactured with a standard rear-brake ABS modulator valve instead of a quick release valve, which may exceed the intended service-brake release timing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: Longer than expected service-brake release timing may lengthen vehicle stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the standard rear-brake, ABS modulator valve with a quick release valve, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20KWD.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2020-04-06 · campaign 20V199000 · 460,515 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail
Risk: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
Exterior Lighting 2018-11-16 · campaign 18V816000 · 1,619 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, greater than 30 feet long and equipped with side extender mounted intermediate marker lamp/turn signals that do not include a reflex reflector. Since both intermediate side marker lamps and reflex reflectors are required, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Missing reflex reflectors can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will install reflex reflective tape, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWF, and 18PBC.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel 2018-09-21 · campaign 18V657000 · 48,896 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Kenworth C500, T600, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks, as well as Peterbilt 367, 386, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, equipped with Cummins ISX15 or X15 diesel engines. In certain driving conditions, such as on a long down-hill grade, the fuel line may burst if the fuel pump cooling circuit screen becomes restricted.
Risk: If the fuel line bursts, fuel may leak onto the road resulting in a roadway hazard for other motorists. The engine may also stall without warning, resulting in the vehicle's inability to restart, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Cummins will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect fuel pump cooling circuit screen, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18E081.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2018-06-01 · campaign 18V368000 · 85,626 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks and 2015-2018 Kenworth T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and
Risk: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on July 30, 2018. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-918-259-3258 or Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2018-02-02 · campaign 18V092000 · 1,938 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks, and Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks, all equipped with an automated Eaton UltraShift Plus or Eaton Advantage Transmission with right hand stalk shifter. The display that indicates which transmission gear the driver selected may display incorrectly. The display can indicate 'N' when the shifter is set into 'D' or 'R', and the as a result, the truck will not move. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with
Risk: A truck that does not move as expected can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install a transmission software update, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 18KWA and 118-A.
Exterior Lighting 2017-07-25 · campaign 17V471000 · 5,731 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Peterbilt 567 and 579 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks equipped with optional spotlights. The spotlight circuit may not be adequately protected in the event of a short.
Risk: A short in the spotlight circuitry may increase the risk of a fire at the cab fuse block.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will change the polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit to a standard fuse, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 17KWC and 717-B.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2017-02-15 · campaign 17V103000 · 465 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Kenworth K370, T680, T880 and 2017-2018 Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks. The plastic fuel tee fittings on these trucks may leak fuel.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kenworth and Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect fuel tees, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 17KWA and 217-A.
Electrical System:ignition:module 2016-06-10 · campaign 16V426000 · 3,227 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2017 Kenworth C500, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured March 9, 2016, to April 26, 2016 and 2017 Peterbilt 320, 365, 367, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured March 10, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with Cummins ISX12 or ISX15 engines and have an engine control module (ECM) that may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning without the ability to restart it.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Cummins will notify owners, and Cummins dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1-800-343-7357, Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 16KWB (Kenworth) and 616-C (Peterbilt).
Service bulletins (79)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-11 · P001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"kenworth: dealers should check the chassis list and sir weekly for vin changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. peterbilt: dealers should check the chassis list and sir weekly for vin changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."
Engine 2026-09-05 · E343 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
an exhaust manifold slip joint seal kit is now available for epa 2017-2024 paccar mx-13 engines.
Engine 2026-07-10 · E311 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition, chassis affected, service action, warranty, and procedure sections have been updated to include the latest prognostics bulletin verbiage.
Power Train 2026-07-03 · 26-035 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
updated eaton's taib0885en bulletin link.
Electrical System 2026-05-06 · 02-177 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
troubleshooting procedures for 2.1m cab power windows are now available.
Engine 2026-04-17 · 45-070 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the attached procedures document has been updated with more detail and explanations. this is not a stand-alone procedure. cummins quickserve troubleshooting will specify the use of these procedures while troubleshooting specific fault codes.
Showing the 6 most recent of 79 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-03 · Tires · 692,920 mi“the contact owns a 2017 kenworth t680 equipped with michelin tires, tire line: x-one line grip, tire size: 445/50r/22.5, dot number: (n/a). the contact stated while driving 8 mph, on the interstate 75, the second tire on the passenger’s side experienced a blowout. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact stated that the vehicle spun out …”
2022-08-03 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 457,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 kenworth t680. the contact stated while driving downhill at 65 mph, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. the "engine failure. stop vehicle" message and other messages were displayed. the vehicle lost motive power. the contact was able to pull to the side of the road. the contact was un…”
2018-08-16 · Service Brakes · 146,811 mi“repaired for tractor broke down while driving down interstate complaint of tractor will not move road call for transmission complaint not shifting found not a trans problem and that brakes locked up while in driving lane, pinched off lines to get truck out of traffic, replaced left rear haldex brake can for leaking air checked for flat spots on tir…”
2018-08-14 · Service Brakes · 254,364 mi · 🔥 fire“while driving down hyway wheel end started smoking, driver stopped and found haldex brake can leaking air causing the brakes to drag and overheat…”
2018-08-14 · Service Brakes · 190,416 mi · 🔥 fire“driver driving down hyway and wheel end started smoking, driver stoped and found haldex brake chamber leaking air causing brake to apply on thier own which resulting in 1 wheel end smoking the brakes changed out brake chamber and all burnt parts…”
2018-07-09 · Service Brakes · 424,655 mi · 🔥 fire“driver driving down road in illionois right front drive axle wheel end brakes started smoking when brake not depressed, driver stopped found both tires in tact and fully inflated then tires started on fire while parked and could not be extinguished total loss of truck trailer and load, called in fire team determined haldex brake chamber on right re…”
2018-07-09 · Service Brakes · 205,893 mi · 🔥 fire“driver driving down flat road near yuba city ca, brakes started smoking heat blew tire and started tires on fire complete loss of truck and trailer deemed haldex gold seal brake can failure thought to have caused fire and loss…”
2018-07-09 · Service Brakes · 209,000 mi · 🔥 fire“driver driving down flat hyway and brakes started smoking truck started on fire, fire deptment was able to get the fire under control before total loss of truck and trailer, 36,000 damage to truck plus the damage to trailer called in haldex tech rep during investigation found left rear haldex brake chamber failed which resulted in a loss of air pre…”
2017-04-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 117,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2017 kenworth t680. while driving various speeds uphill, the vehicle lost power when the accelerator pedal was depressed. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal had to be depressed to the floorboard in order for the vehicle to accelerate. the failure recurred numerous times. the contact stated that the vehicle was take…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.