2003 Kenworth T2000 recalls and problems

The 2003 Kenworth T2000 has 5 recalls and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

How the 2003 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 8 T2000 model years — 5th most.

5recalls

2complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

5 recalls

Structure

Aug 19, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V410000 · 311 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks, the bracket, used to support the battery box and step, can crack.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BRACKET, USED TO SUPPORT THE BATTERY BOX AND STEP, CAN CRACK.

Risk: A crack in the bracket May lead to premature failure of the bracket causing the step to fail without warning, when an individual steps on it, causing a fall.

Original NHTSA wording

A CRACK IN THE BRACKET MAY LEAD TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRACKET CAUSING THE STEP TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL STEPS ON IT, CAUSING A FALL.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will change the battery box support bracket and step support bracket. The recall began on September 24, 2004. Owners should contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.

Paccar/Kenworth recall no. 04KW5.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Steering

Oct 20, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V410000 · 1,187 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks equipped with dana spicer integral knuckle and steer arm assemblies, the steer axle assemblies May have a longitudinal crack in the steer arm.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA SPICER INTEGRAL KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES, THE STEER AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A LONGITUDINAL CRACK IN THE STEER ARM.

Risk: If the crack should propagate over time, the ball could become loose resulting in a loss of steering, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE CRACK SHOULD PROPAGATE OVER TIME, THE BALL COULD BECOME LOOSE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and replace the knuckle and steer arm assemblies. Owner notification began January 5, 2004. Owners should contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201.

Kenworth recall no. 03KWA\Peterbilt recall no. 1003G.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Unknown or other

Jul 1, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V234000 · 84 vehicles

Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with vertical tail pipes, the frame access grabhandle is mounted too high.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VERTICAL TAIL PIPES, THE FRAME ACCESS GRABHANDLE IS MOUNTED TOO HIGH.

Risk: This condition could cause a person to slip and/or fall and could lead to personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A PERSON TO SLIP AND/OR FALL AND COULD LEAD TO PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the grabhandle location and if determined to be mounted too high, the handle will be relocated to the proper height. Owner notification began July 29, 2003. Owners should contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.

Kenworth recall no. 03KW5.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Trailer Hitches

May 5, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V168000 · 483 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks equipped with jost International jsk 37U series fifth wheels, a fatigue crack can develop in the bracket pin weld under certain loading conditions.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.

Risk: If left undetected or corrected it could lead to the separation of the fifth wheel top plate from its mounting structure, possibly resulting in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the bracket pins and repair instructions free of charge. Peterbilt's owner notification began June 20, 2003. Kenworth's owner notification began June 12, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Peterbilt at 940-591-4201 or Kenworth 425-828-5440.

Peterbilt recall no. 403-C/Kenworth recall no. 03KW4.also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Exterior Lighting

Feb 13, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V045000 · 9,890 vehicles

Problem: Certain trucks equipped with trailer connections fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) no. 121, "air brake systems," and no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the supplier removed a rubber grommet from the trailer light line connector. The vehicles are experiencing corrosion at the 7-WAY trailer connection. This causes intermittent flashing/flickering of the trailer lights.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRAILER CONNECTIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS) NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE SUPPLIER REMOVED A RUBBER GROMMET FROM THE TRAILER LIGHT LINE CONNECTOR. THE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING CORROSION AT THE 7-WAY TRAILER CONNECTION. THIS CAUSES INTERMITTENT FLASHING/FLICKERING OF THE TRAILER LIGHTS.

Risk: This could cause an electrical short and/or possible fire hazard.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND/OR POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install the missing grommet on all affected chassis. If a connector is found defective, it will be replaced with a new connector. Owner notification is began on March 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.

Kenworth recall no. 03KW1. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine1

Exterior Lighting1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

2003 vs. other Kenworth T2000 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Kenworth T2000 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Kenworth T2000, the latest from Aug 19, 2004 (structure). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Kenworth T2000?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (1), exterior lighting (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.