Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Kenworth T800, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Exterior lighting1
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, 14 2003 T800 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 4 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 2003 Kenworth T800 failed the safety check 0.58% of the time — 72% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 219,230 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Kenworth T800.
| 2007112 10 Apr 2007 | Powertrain On certain trucks, the wiring, parts, or transmission programming required for the auto neutral feature to function as designed were either not installed, conne… |
| 2005069 24 Mar 2005 | Heater And Defroster On certain vehicles, burner tubes in the Webasto DBW 2010 Scholastic coolant heater may begin deteriorating at an accelerated rate and could fail. Burner tube … |
| 2004260 21 Jul 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a potential chaffing point may exist between a heat shield on the engine and the wiring for the alternator. The interference is only prese… |
| 2004131 13 Apr 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the cab transmission harness may have been incorrectly wired during production. As a result, the neutral start feature of the transmission… |
| 2003183 5 Aug 2003 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the optional battery-mounted 50 amp and/or 60 amp circuit breaker had been wired incorrectly. If enough accessories are being used simulta… |
| 2003163 2 Jul 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, the grabhandles were mounted too high and may limit the ability to maintain 3-points of contact at all times. This condition may cause a p… |
| 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… |
| 2003034 13 Feb 2003 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles a rubber grommet from the trailer light line connector is missing. Kenworth chassis equipped with trailer connections are experiencing corr… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WIRING, PARTS, OR TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING REQUIRED FOR THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED WERE EITHER NOT INSTALLED, CONNECTED, OR PROGRAMMED PROPERLY.
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON FULLER ULTRASONIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." THE CAB TRANSMISSION HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY WIRED DURING PRODUCTION INSTALLATION.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2003 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. |
| 10170199 | This SKU is a Climate Control Module. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect alignment pins and knobs. The alignment pins may be weak which cause them to break and knob material may be weak which could cause them to break. Breaking of the alignment pins or knob could prevent adjustment of the climate control system. |
| 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 |
| 10028327 | KENWORTH TRUCK: AIR INTAKE FOR PRE-2007 ISM ENGINE IN T800 SHORT HOOD CHASSIS. PREMATURE ENGINE WEAR DUE TO DIRT INGESTION INVOLVING THE 2002-07 T800 SHORT HOOD (SH) MODEL WITH CUMMINS ISM ENGINE. *PE |
| 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)