2019 Kenworth T680 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (2) · Power Train (2) · Structure:body (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 (9)
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.
Steering:critical Fasteners 2022-04-25 · campaign 22V277000 · 17,641 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T880, T800, W900, W990; and 2018-2020 Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567, and 579 vehicles. The Dana D-Series axle steer arm fasteners that attach the steering arm to the steering knuckle may fail.
Risk: Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace and torque the steer arm fasteners, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22 PBB and 22 KWB.
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.
Parking Brake 2019-04-05 · campaign 19V275000 · 1,837 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2020 T680 and T880 tandem axle vehicles equipped with a parking brake on a single axle and certain models of automated manual transmissions. During cold temperatures, the signal from the park brake pressure switch to the transmission controller may be delayed possibly resulting in the vehicle moving unexpectedly.
Risk: Unexpected vehicle movement may increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will replace the park brake pressure switch, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners and interim notification on June 3, 2019. The recall began August 6, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 19KWB.
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.
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.
Service bulletins (62)
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.
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.
Engine 2026-06-06 · E311 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the paccar powertrain prognostics webcast video link has been removed. it will be included with updated information at a later date.
Showing the 6 most recent of 62 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-30 · Power Train“when i was driving on the highway the transmission fault error came on and my truck came to a stop on on the highway. it changed gears weirdly and kept the rpm’s high. once it came to a stop i turned the truck off and on and it work fine. this has happened multiple times and a nationwide failure of the mtm and transmission is the cause of this. man…”
2024-12-16 · Power Train“the eaton 12 speeds that these trucks come equipped with are failing just after the warranty expires. lots of drivers with the same problem.…”
2023-09-15 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“we have under hood fire during operating the truck. the driver was driving in tx. the police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. the truck need to be towed to terminal. the two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. we asked some privet mechanics…”
2022-06-15 · Fuel System, Diesel:delivery:fuel Pump · 432,549 mi“the contact owns a 2019 kenworth t680. the contact stated while driving 75 mph, there was an abnormal popping noise detected and the vehicle decelerated and the fuel system detached from the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the pump bolt had fractured. the local dealer was not contacted. t…”
2020-09-16 · Service Brakes · 200,000 mi · 🔥 fire“unit driving down road and brake chamber failed causing brakes to slowly apply without operator being aware until seen smoke coming from drive axle brakes. the low air pressure light did not illuminate, stayed high enough not to illuminate a low air warning. 2 independent fire inspections proved this was a haldex brake chamber failure. the chambe…”
2020-07-16 · Service Brakes · 245,000 mi“at highway speeds the collision mitigation system will go off for no reason causing a sudden hard braking. this seems to be extremely dangerous if vehicle is traveling on wet or icy roads, in close quarter construction zones or if vehicle happens to be in a turn. unfortunately if another vehicle was following too close would be an accident, which …”
2019-07-03 · Structure:body“the tractor comes with no emergency trailer brakes handle in the cab like the rest of trucks it make it very dangerous while hauling 80,000 pounds and the service brakes takes forever to stop the truck also the top of the cab at the joints is leaking water not the first to complain bout this problem with the 2019 kw they say that's how they make tr…”
2019-01-02 · Unknown Or Other · 40 mi“my father was fueling this brand new truck with cng (compressed natural gas) when one of the tanks exploded. the truck was stationary at the ang (american natural gas) station in buttonwillow california at the intersection of interstate 5 and hwy 58. my father is in critical condition at the icu in ucla with multiple broke bones as well as bleedi…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.