Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 393 complaints for KENWORTH
Incident date: Oct 4, 2021
The lane keeping assistance will send the car jerking left or right without reason or warning. (I’m not sure if the car is reacting to a shadow on the road or for some other reason.). This has occurred a number of times with an abrupt and violent movement. The last time this occurred was at around 6:50pm on Wednesday April 5, 2023 while driving westbound approaching the northernmost Palm Beach ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 27, 2022
The rear opening and closing of the tailgate caused a break in the wiring harness, causing the rearview camera to fail. This is due to a design flaw and identical to what has happened in the 2017-2019 models.
Incident date: Dec 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2023 Kenworth T680. The contact stated that the dealer previously repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V547000 (Steering). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS, traction control, transmission, and hill assist warning lights illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not diagno... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2023 Kenworth T680. The contact stated that the dealer previously repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V547000 (Steering). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS, traction control, transmission, and hill assist warning lights illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not diagno... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2023 Kenworth T280. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the gears were not shifting properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure, and a mechanic was sent to his residence on two occasions for a service call, where it was diagnosed that the transmission actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired b... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
This truck was breaking automatically, and no one was front of the truck, it was scary, I almost crashed with loaded trailer on my back, it has done it multiple times, and my traction light and stability light is on all the time and adaptive cruise control had turned off completely abs light comes on and off frequently,
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
This truck was breaking automatically, and no one was front of the truck, it was scary, I almost crashed with loaded trailer on my back, it has done it multiple times, and my traction light and stability light is on all the time and adaptive cruise control had turned off completely abs light comes on and off frequently,
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
This truck was breaking automatically, and no one was front of the truck, it was scary, I almost crashed with loaded trailer on my back, it has done it multiple times, and my traction light and stability light is on all the time and adaptive cruise control had turned off completely abs light comes on and off frequently,
Incident date: Sep 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he noticed smoke coming through the AC vents and from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and opened the hood of the vehicle. The contact noticed that the water pump was leaking and one of the hose pipe was cracked. The contact was a... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2022
The contact owned a 2013 Kenworth T370. The contact stated that while the commercial truck was parked and turned off, a loud noise was heard outside and the contact went to investigate and discovered smoke and flames coming from under the hood of the truck. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A fire report was tak... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 11, 2022
The contact owned a 2013 Kenworth T370. The contact stated that while the commercial truck was parked and turned off, a loud noise was heard outside and the contact went to investigate and discovered smoke and flames coming from under the hood of the truck. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A fire report was tak... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Aug 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving downhill at 65 MPH, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The "Engine Failure. Stop Vehicle" message and other messages were displayed. The vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2022
The air dryer bracket part number G11-6218 was craked and because of that it wasn't secured to the frame. The air dryer was hanging on the airline with the piece of the broken bracket. It is not secured. That is extremely unsafe because it could brake airlines and trucks would lose its brakes.
Incident date: Jul 12, 2022
2022 KENWORTH W900. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND STEERED TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL BARRIER.
Crash
Incident date: May 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal popping noise detected and the vehicle decelerated and the fuel system detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the pump bolt had fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manu... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal popping noise detected and the vehicle decelerated and the fuel system detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the pump bolt had fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2022
While driving the factory floor mat can slide under the rear of the brake pedal while it is being applied. Once pedal is released it will still hold brake pressure causing brakes to remain engaged while still allowing vehicle to move down the road in turn causing brakes to heat up and either lockup/ catch fire or once cooled become inoperable. We have heat marks on exterior of front drums and pads... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2018
I am analyzing a rollover event with the subject Kenworth T270 configured as a tanker truck. The driver's safety belt was configured with an "IMMI Comfort Latch" shoulder belt tension reliever. It appears that this system is in violation of FMVSS 208 sections S7.4.2 and S7.4.5 due to the fact that there is no automatic release of the tension relieving device upon opening of the driver's door or re... Read more
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Jun 17, 2018
I am analyzing a rollover event with the subject Kenworth T270 configured as a tanker truck. The driver's safety belt was configured with an "IMMI Comfort Latch" shoulder belt tension reliever. It appears that this system is in violation of FMVSS 208 sections S7.4.2 and S7.4.5 due to the fact that there is no automatic release of the tension relieving device upon opening of the driver's door or re... Read more
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Jun 17, 2018
I am analyzing a rollover event with the subject Kenworth T270 configured as a tanker truck. The driver's safety belt was configured with an "IMMI Comfort Latch" shoulder belt tension reliever. It appears that this system is in violation of FMVSS 208 sections S7.4.2 and S7.4.5 due to the fact that there is no automatic release of the tension relieving device upon opening of the driver's door or re... Read more
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
This Truck Was Park. The Paccar Engine MX13 and Chassis Harness from the Driver Side Shortaged, causing a Fire in the back of the engine and ABS Harness under the Steering Shaft. Plástic and Rubber wire insulation Melted with the fire causing it to drip on top of the water seperator cap which resulted in a fuel flame that caused even more damage throughought the outstanding components. This probl... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2014 Kenworth T660. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V199000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes, Air). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The part was not available for repair. The contact had not experienced a failur... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2014 Kenworth T660. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V199000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes, Air). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The part was not available for repair. The contact had not experienced a failur... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2020
The vehicle drifts to the right and will not track in its lane. In addition there is a hard pull to the right upon hard braking. There is also front end vibration. It has been taken to the factory authorized facility a number of times and has been in the shop for more than 3 months in the last approximate year.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2020
The vehicle drifts to the right and will not track in its lane. In addition there is a hard pull to the right upon hard braking. There is also front end vibration. It has been taken to the factory authorized facility a number of times and has been in the shop for more than 3 months in the last approximate year.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2020
The vehicle drifts to the right and will not track in its lane. In addition there is a hard pull to the right upon hard braking. There is also front end vibration. It has been taken to the factory authorized facility a number of times and has been in the shop for more than 3 months in the last approximate year.
Incident date: Jun 12, 2021
Seat belt frame cover was cracked and seat belt would not retract. The other side was broken as well with casing coming off. I was in the middle of backing for a delivery and the driver seat retract would not stay in place and the seat kept folding forward causing me to not be able to back the truck. I was told this is due to obese drivers causing the seat to break. Also during the time of my bra... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2021
Seat belt frame cover was cracked and seat belt would not retract. The other side was broken as well with casing coming off. I was in the middle of backing for a delivery and the driver seat retract would not stay in place and the seat kept folding forward causing me to not be able to back the truck. I was told this is due to obese drivers causing the seat to break. Also during the time of my bra... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2021
Seat belt frame cover was cracked and seat belt would not retract. The other side was broken as well with casing coming off. I was in the middle of backing for a delivery and the driver seat retract would not stay in place and the seat kept folding forward causing me to not be able to back the truck. I was told this is due to obese drivers causing the seat to break. Also during the time of my bra... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2021
I started the truck after not driving for 1 day and a heavy rain storm the day prior. I attempted to drive bobtail when the brakes locked up. The traction control light came on then went back off. Then the adaptive cruise control notification came on. The regon came on then went back off. A speedometer sign with an exclamation mark came up and would not go away. After attempting to go down the ro... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2021
I started the truck after not driving for 1 day and a heavy rain storm the day prior. I attempted to drive bobtail when the brakes locked up. The traction control light came on then went back off. Then the adaptive cruise control notification came on. The regon came on then went back off. A speedometer sign with an exclamation mark came up and would not go away. After attempting to go down the ro... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2021
I started the truck after not driving for 1 day and a heavy rain storm the day prior. I attempted to drive bobtail when the brakes locked up. The traction control light came on then went back off. Then the adaptive cruise control notification came on. The regon came on then went back off. A speedometer sign with an exclamation mark came up and would not go away. After attempting to go down the ro... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2021
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AN ABSOLUTE DANGER TO THE MOTORING PUBLIC AND NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED IMMEDIATELY. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF ENGINEER'S WHO DON'T KNOW THEIR ASS FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND DESIGNING BULLSHIT THAT DOESN'T WORK. FAR TOO MANY FALSE RADAR RETURNS AND UNWANTED HARD STOPS TO BE OF ANY USE. I DO NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE BUT IF I DID THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO RIGHT AFTER I PULL THE ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2021
TRACTOR ABS SYSTEM APPLIES THE BRAKES TO THE TRAILERS WHILE CORNERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ENTERING OR EXITING A HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP THE BRAKES UNTIL THE TRACTOR AND TRAILERS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THESE TRUCKS AND TRAILERS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 155,000 LBS., AND LOSING CONTROL IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE ON ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2020
SEAT BELT CABLE BECOMES FRAYED AND BREAKS. WILL BREAK COMPLETELY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. WITH NOTHING HOLDING DRIVER IN DRIVER WILL BECOME INJURED AND POSSIBLY DEATH. REPLACE WITH A BETTER CONSTRUCTED DEVICE
Incident date: Sep 23, 2020
UNIT HAD CLUTCH FAILURE FAILED TO DISENGAGE UNDER 18E-102, PER FEDERAL GUIDLINES IT FALLS UNDER THE CLUTCH RANGE OF AU1704192065 AND FALLS UNDER EATONS ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN RELEASE BUT THEY REVISED IT TO WHERE IT DOES NOT COVER THIS ONE BECUASE NOW THEY CHANGED THE RANGE TO AU1711 THRU AU1804 BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF FAILURE BELOW AU1711, WHY DOES EATONS DOCUMENT NOT MATCH THE FEDERAL DOCUMENTS? A... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2020
UNIT DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND BRAKE CHAMBER FAILED CAUSING BRAKES TO SLOWLY APPLY WITHOUT OPERATOR BEING AWARE UNTIL SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVE AXLE BRAKES. THE LOW AIR PRESSURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, STAYED HIGH ENOUGH NOT TO ILLUMINATE A LOW AIR WARNING. 2 INDEPENDENT FIRE INSPECTIONS PROVED THIS WAS A HALDEX BRAKE CHAMBER FAILURE. THE CHAMBER WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND IT IS IN THE RANGE WHERE... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jun 8, 2020
I HAVE A HANKOOK TIRE , MODEL AM15+ WITH LABELING ON THE SIDEWALL "MADE IN CHINA" THE SIZE IS 385/65R22.5 THE DOT CODE ON THE TIRE : 1BB31 53H1 3218 THIS DOT CODE IS NOT CORRECT FOR THE ABOVE TIRE. DO YOU RECALL TIRES WITH AN INCORRECT DOT CODE?*DT*JB
Crash
Incident date: Jul 9, 2020
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM WILL GO OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING A SUDDEN HARD BRAKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON WET OR ICY ROADS, IN CLOSE QUARTER CONSTRUCTION ZONES OR IF VEHICLE HAPPENS TO BE IN A TURN. UNFORTUNATELY IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE WOULD BE AN ACCIDENT, WHICH I HAVE HEARD HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE TAKEN TRUCK TO K... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KENWORTH T880. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, HE DEPRESSED HIS BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT VEERED THE VEHICLE TO RIGHT OFF OF THE ROAD AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTR... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KENWORTH T880. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, HE DEPRESSED HIS BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT VEERED THE VEHICLE TO RIGHT OFF OF THE ROAD AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTR... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 1, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KENWORTH T680. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAVY TRUCK EXHIBITED NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH THE DIESEL FUEL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURES OF THE NOX SENSOR, DIESEL FUEL DOSING VALVE, THE EGR COOLER, THE HC VALVE, THE AMMONIA SENSOR, THE COMMON RAIL, FUEL PUMP, EXHAUST FLEX PIPE, AND THE COMPUTER ALSO FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE HEAVY TRUCK TO NOT EXCEED 5 MPH. THE CONTACT S... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2020
ON SUNDAY, THE 22ND OF MARCH, I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON US HWY 45. THE SKY WAS CLEARING AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. I HAD MY CRUISE SET TO 65 MPH. AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS, THE DISTANCE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK MISTOOK THE SHADOW OF THE OVERPASS AS A STOPPED VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE DID A HARD BRAKE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. I TOOK IT... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2020
ON SUNDAY, THE 22ND OF MARCH, I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON US HWY 45. THE SKY WAS CLEARING AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. I HAD MY CRUISE SET TO 65 MPH. AS I APPROACHED AN OVERPASS, THE DISTANCE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK MISTOOK THE SHADOW OF THE OVERPASS AS A STOPPED VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE DID A HARD BRAKE. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. I TOOK IT... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2020
APPARENTLY THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP IN MOST MODELS OF THIS CUMMINS ISX15 MOTOR, THA WHEN IT DOES FAIL, SHUTS THE TRUCK DOWN ON HIGHWAY, OR WORSE, LIK EIT DID TO ME....SEND METAL SHAVINGS INTO THE REST OF THE MOTOR DESTROYING THE MOTOR. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR CERAMIC PLUNGERS, WHICH I DON'T HAVE...AND RECALLS ON MANY YEARS THIS MODEL WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED MAJOR CO... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2020
APPARENTLY THERE IS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP IN MOST MODELS OF THIS CUMMINS ISX15 MOTOR, THA WHEN IT DOES FAIL, SHUTS THE TRUCK DOWN ON HIGHWAY, OR WORSE, LIK EIT DID TO ME....SEND METAL SHAVINGS INTO THE REST OF THE MOTOR DESTROYING THE MOTOR. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR CERAMIC PLUNGERS, WHICH I DON'T HAVE...AND RECALLS ON MANY YEARS THIS MODEL WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED MAJOR CO... Read more