The defect
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, C500, C540, C550, T660, T800, W900, and 963 trucks manufactured November 1, 2010, to April 6, 2015. In the affected trucks, water may leak into the wiper motor.
The risk
As water leaks in, the wiper may cease to function on the 'intermittent' setting, reducing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the water may cause corrosion which, over time, may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
PACCAR is still developing and testing a remedy. The recall is expected to begin in July 2015. An interim letter was sent to owners on July 2, 2015. The recall began on September 2, 1015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 15KWF.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kenworth 963 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth T370 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth T440 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth T470 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth T660 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth T800 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Kenworth W900 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenworth 963 | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth 963 | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth 963 | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth 963 | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth 963 | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth 963 | 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2011 | 0 | 6 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2012 | 1 | 3 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2013 | 0 | 2 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2014 | 0 | 4 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2015 | 0 | 3 |
| Kenworth C500 | 2016 | 0 | 3 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C540 | 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2014 | 0 | 2 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth C550 | 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2011 | 0 | 4 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2012 | 0 | 4 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2013 | 0 | 5 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2014 | 1 | 6 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2015 | 1 | 4 |
| Kenworth T270 | 2016 | 0 | 3 |
Other visibility recalls in 2015
21 of the 863 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2015 concerned the visibility; PACCAR Incorporated filed 154 campaigns in all.
| 15V785000 23 Nov 2015 | Supreme Corporation |
| 15V689000 22 Oct 2015 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 15V684000 21 Oct 2015 | Corp. Micro Bird Inc. |
| 15V609000 29 Sept 2015 | General Motors LLC |
| 15V599000 24 Sept 2015 | General Motors LLC |
| 15V558000 3 Sept 2015 | General Motors LLC |
| 15V553000 2 Sept 2015 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 15V547000 1 Sept 2015 | Spartan Motors USA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2015