The 2002 Kenworth W900 has 4 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is suspension.
How the 2002 compares
Average
Fewest complaintsMost complaints
Average complaint count among 12 W900 model years — 7th most.
4recalls
1complaints
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.
Aug 5, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V285000 · 117 vehicles
Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks, the main cab wiring harness was incorrectly connected to the 50 amp circuit breaker instead of the 135 amp breaker.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE MAIN CAB WIRING HARNESS WAS INCORRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE 50 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER INSTEAD OF THE 135 AMP BREAKER.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will inspect the vehicles and the wiring will be corrected if necessary. Owner notification began September 16, 2003. Owners should contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.
Kenworth recall no. 03KW7.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
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.
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.
2002 vs. other Kenworth W900 years
Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.
Questions
Does the 2002 Kenworth W900 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Kenworth W900, the latest from Aug 5, 2003 (electrical system). 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 2002 Kenworth W900?
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention suspension (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.
Recalls by Model