Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Kenworth T800, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 12 2001 T800 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Kenworth T800 failed the safety check 1.22% of the time — 39% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 244,950 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2001 Kenworth T800.
| 2003121 5 May 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, fatigue cracks can initiate in the weld joining the bracket pin to its mounting flange on the fifth wheel assembly. Weld failures could le… |
| 2001239 10 Sept 2001 | Other Certain heavy duty trucks built between March 5, 2001 and June 4, 2001. Fail to comply with the requirements of C.M. V. S.S. 103, "windshield defrosting and de… |
| 2001217 27 Aug 2001 | Steering Certain heavy duty trucks equipped with TRW tie rod ends on certain meritor axles. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the … |
| 2001138 31 May 2001 | Suspension Certain heavy duty trucks equipped with Meritor FG941 steer axles. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) was determined incorrectly and over-stated on the vehicle… |
| 2001157 30 May 2001 | Not Entered Certain heavy duty trucks equipped with Chalmers 1000 Series and 800 Series suspension kits. These suspension kits may have insufficient penetration of the weld… |
| 2001104 16 May 2001 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the rear suspension is regularly subjected to extreme articulation, resulting in flexing of the joint. Failure of the lower sway arm attach… |
| 2001030 8 Feb 2001 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the main cab power and battery leads were attached incorrectly to the same side of the 135A circuit breaker when this circuit breaker was m… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VERTICAL TAIL PIPES, THE FRAME ACCESS GRABHANDLE IS MOUNTED TOO HIGH.
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.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR P 18X7 BRAKES WITH 36" BRAKE CHAMBERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE TRUCKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A COMBINED AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME LESS THAN 12 TIMES THE COMBINED VOLUME OF ALL SERVICE BRAKE CHAMBERS.
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REPLACEMENT DANA SPICER TANDEM DRIVE AXLE MODELS DS463 AND DS521, INSTALLED ON VEHICLES FROM MAY 1, 2001 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2002, AN UNDERSIZED ATTACHMENT WELD MAY FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE DRIVELINE U-JOINT FASTENERS AT THE OUTPUT YOKE OF THE TRANSMISSION WERE IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS." THE MODE DOOR IN AN HVAC SYSTEM CAN BECOME INOPERABLE. THE MODE DOOR CAM AND ACTUATOR COULD BIND, CAUSING THE CAM RETAINING TABS TO SHEAR OFF.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR FG941 STEER AXLES. THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) WAS DETERMINED INCORRECTLY AND OVER-STATED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. WITH THE INCORRECT GAWR LISTED, THESE LABELS DO NOT MEET THE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "REQUIREMENTS FOR MANUFACTURERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES." VEHICLES WILL BE REMEDIED EITHER BY ASSIGNING THE PROPER WEIGHT RATING OR, IF POSSIBLE, BY CHANGING THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO MEET THE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED WEIGHT RATING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 54" REAR AXLE SPACING CONFIGURATION OF THE AIRGLIDE 200 SUSPENSION WITH THE SERVICE APPLICATION IDENTIFIED AS LOGGER, DUMP TRUCK, OR TANKER. THE REAR SUSPENSION IS REGULARLY SUBJECTED TO EXTREME ARTICULATION, RESULTING IN FLEXING OF THE JOINT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL FIREWALL-MOUNTED CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE MAIN CAB POWER AND BATTERY POWER LEADS WERE ATTACHED INCORRECTLY. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE MAIN CAB POWER BEING UNPROTECTED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Kenworth told its dealers about the 2001 Kenworth T800: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10188550 | Information Only Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter. |
| 10177021 | Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information. |
| 10173205 | Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage. |
| 10168703 | Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor. |
| 10056911 | KENWORTH: SOME TRUCKS FAILED TO MEET COMPANY STANDARDS FOR AIR VOLUME LIFT AXLE AND THE COMPANY WILL INCREASE AIR VOLUME FOR WORTHWHILE IMPROVEMENT TO EXCEED GOVERNMENT FMVSS 121. MODEL T800, W900. *PE |
| 10045240 | KENWORTH: OIL COLLECTION AT CAC INTAKE PIPE IS CAUSED BY AN IMBALANCE IN TURBOCHARGER PRESSURES. MODELS T660, T800, T700, AND W900. *PE |
| 10040181 | PACCAR: ENGINEERING STANDARDS HAVE CHANGED AND THERE ARE NOW ENGINES WITH HEAT TREATED BOLTS. *RM |
| 10040180 | PACCAR: A SOFTWARE UPDATE IS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *RM |
| 10027646 | KENWORTH TRUCKS: REDUCED ENGINE POWER FROM FUEL STARVATION. ANY MODEL KENWORTH EQUIPPED WITH THE 2007 EMISSIONS COMPLIANT ISX ENGINE AND OPTIONAL DAVCO 382 FUEL FILTER, BUILT PRIOR TO 8/11/08, *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)