2018 Kenworth C500 problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (5)
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.
Power Train:clutch Assembly 2018-12-21 · campaign 18V931000 · 25,556 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and 2018-2019 Kenworth C500, T270, T370, T440, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks equipped with automated manual transmissions. An internal component in the clutch assembly may fail, possibly resulting in unintended vehicle movement.
Risk: Unintended movement of a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 18PBE and 18KWH.
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.
Electrical System:wiring 2018-08-22 · campaign 18V555000 · 11,429 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the driver is not warned of a serious engine problem, the engine may unexpectedly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Fuel System, Diesel 2017-07-13 · campaign 17V443000 · 1,737 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, and 2018 Kenworth C500, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks equipped with Cummins ISX 15L engines. These engines have a fuel pump whose drive gear could possibly slip on its drive shaft, causing a fuel pump function loss, resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Cummins will notify the vehicle purchaser, and Cummins dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2017. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467 or PACCAR customer service at 1-425-468-7400. PACCAR's number for this recall is C1909.
Service bulletins (25)
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.
Power Train 2026-10-28 · 18KWH · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replaced obsolete srt codes with updated srt codes.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-13 · 42-070 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
due to supplier constraints, an authorized aftermarket surge tank has been made available.
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 2026-04-17 · 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.
Engine 2026-01-31 · 45-070 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
procedure pictures updated for clarity. when troubleshooting cummins x15 fault codes 555 or 556, follow this additional testing, inspection, and documentation procedure to help identify the root cause of dusted engines. this is not a stand-alone process but must be used alongside cummins troublesho
Service Brakes 2025-10-28 · 24KWD · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety recall additional chassis have been included. the chassis list has been updated. certain t370 / t440 / t470 / t480 / t660 / t680 / t800 / t880 / w900 / c500 chassis may be equipped with air tank reservoirs that have less than twelve times the combined volume of all service brake chambers whic
Showing the 6 most recent of 25 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.