KENWORTH Complaints

APPARENTLY, CERTAIN TURBO CHARGERS INSTALLED ON THE CAT C-15, EITHER ORIGINALLY OR AS A REPLACEMENT, HAVE A FACTORY-INSTALLED DEVICE IN THE CASING THAT SEALS A HOLE WHERE AN OPTIONAL 'EMISSIONS SENSOR' WOULD OTHERWISE BE LOCATED. ON MY TRUCK THIS PLUG DEVICE BLEW OUT, LEAVING A 1.5 INCH-DIAMETER HOLE IN THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE TURBO. THE HOLE IN THE TURBO CASING EMITTED RAW TOXIC EXHAUST FUMES DIRECTLY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAB. THIS DISCHARGE OVERHEATED ADJACENT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FIREWALL. SURFACES ON THE PLASTIC DASH AND GLOVEBOX IN THE CAB WERE ABNORMALLY HOT TO THE TOUCH! METAL STRUCTURES INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT WERE ALSO VERY HOT. I CONTACTED CAT SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE DEFECT. THEY RESPONDED WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:. 'CATERPILLAR INC. WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN ANY HELP ON THIS.' (MARK SANDSCHAFER, JANUARY 19, 2017)

THIS TRUCK IS A MISBUILD FROM THE FACTORY ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM PLUMBING. I AM CONCERNED OTHER UNITS MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN BUILT WRONG. THE TRACTION CONTROL LOCKS UP THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE BRAKES WHEN THE TRUCK SPINS A TIRE AND KILLS THE ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THE SERVICE BRAKE AIR LINES ARE HOOKED UP INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY, NOT GOING THROUGH THE ABS MODULATOR VALVE. THIS ALLOWS FULL BRAKE APPLICATION TO THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE SERVICE BRAKES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES. IT ALSO MAKES THE TRUCK SO THE ABS BRAKE FUNCTION IS NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION. WE HAVE BLOWN APART 2 FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNITS RENDERING THE TRUCK UNABLE TO MOVE. OFTEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT KILLS THE ENGINE SO NOW YOU ALSO LOOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL BUILD ON THIS TRUCK. ABS IS REQUIRED BY DOT LAW AND THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE FULL ABS FUNCTION. I HAVE CONTACTED BENDIX, THE MAKER OF THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THE WAY THIS IS HOOKED UP WILL CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE VALVE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT ONE AIR LINE COMES FROM THE MODULE WHICH GOES TO THE REAR BRAKE. THE OTHER AIR LINE COMES DIRECTLY OUT OF THE ATR6 BRAKE VALVE, THIS LINE GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FRONT DRIVER SERVICE BRAKE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE RUN THROUGH THE MODULATOR VALVE FOR PROPER FUNCTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS IN ICY SITUATIONS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON MOUNTAIN PASSES AND LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH NO CONTROL. URGENT ACTION REQUIRED PLEASE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 YEARS, WE HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS TRUCKS BRAKES LOCK UP. WE HAVE THE KENWORTH DEALER ALSO LOOK AT IT AND THEY DID NOT FIND THE ISSUE EITHER. CURRENTLY THIS TRUCK IS AT THE KENWORTH DEALER WITH A REQUEST FOR THEM TO REPAIR IT AND REIMBURSE US OUR COSTS.

THE DEFROST DOOR HAS BROKEN IN THIS VEHICLE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE KENWORTH DESIGN IS PROBLEMATIC AND EVEN THE NEW PARTS ONLY FIX THIS FOR A SHORT TIME. DRIVER NO LONGER HAS DEFROST WHEN THIS HAPPENS MAKING IT AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME IT BROKE.

THE DEFROST DOOR BROKE ON THIS TRUCK LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED WITH NO DEFROST AND ABILITY TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE WINDOWS CLEARED OFF. THE DEFROST DOORS IN THE T680 IS WEAK AND BREAKS OFTEN LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY DEFROST CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO DECREASE IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. KENWORTH HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR IT. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER HE KNEW THE PART NUMBER OF THE REPLACEMENT DOOR ASSEMBLY AND STATED IN AN EMAIL BACK TO ME THAT KENWORTH HAS IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING TO FIX IT ON FUTURE MODELS. LABOR TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $3000 AND THE PART IS ANOTHER $886. WE HAVE 12 OF THESE VEHICLES, SO FAR 5 OF THE 12 HAVE BROKEN LEAVING MORE THAN ONE DRIVER STRUGGLING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE HIS WINDOW FOGGED UP SO BAD HE BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION WHEN THESE DEFROST DOORS BREAK AND IT CREATES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS TRUCKS CAN NOT JUST PULL OVER ANY SPOT THEY CHOOSE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND WAIT FOR A WINDOW TO THAW OUT. THERE ARE 2 ISSUES THAT HAPPEN ON THESE DOORS. 1 THE DOOR IS OVERFLEXED BY THE ELECTRIC ACTUATOR MOTOR AND SNAPS THE DRIVE COGS OFF OF THE DOOR. 2 THE DOORS EITHER SHRINK OR ARE TOO SMALL TO BEGIN WITH AND THE DRIVE COG DOES NOT MAKE FULL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUATOR MOTOR CAUSING THE TEETH TO STRIP OUT AS IN THE PHOTOS ATTACHED. THE DRIVE COG SHOULD BE EXTRUDED FROM THE HOUSING BUT AS YOU CAN SEE ARE SHRUNK INSIDE THE HOUSING. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE DEFROST DOORS HAVE BROKEN IN THIS VEHICLE LEAVING THE DRIVER IN AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. THE FIRST TIME WAS 4/25/16 THE DEFROST DOORS IN THE T680 IS WEAK AND BREAKS OFTEN LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY DEFROST CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO DECREASE IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. KENWORTH HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR IT. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER HE KNEW THE PART NUMBER OF THE REPLACEMENT DOOR ASSEMBLY AND STATED IN AN EMAIL BACK TO ME THAT KENWORTH HAS IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING TO FIX IT ON FUTURE MODELS. LABOR TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $3000 AND THE PART IS ANOTHER $886. WE HAVE 12 OF THESE VEHICLES, SO FAR 5 OF THE 12 HAVE BROKEN LEAVING MORE THAN ONE DRIVER STRUGGLING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE HIS WINDOW FOGGED UP SO BAD HE BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION WHEN THESE DEFROST DOORS BREAK AND IT CREATES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS TRUCKS CAN NOT JUST PULL OVER ANY SPOT THEY CHOOSE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND WAIT FOR A WINDOW TO THAW OUT. *TR

THIS IS THE FIRST OF 2 TIMES THE DEFROST DOORS HAVE BROKEN IN THIS TRUCK. THE DEFROST DOORS IN THE T680 ARE WEAK AND BREAK OFTEN LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY DEFROST CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO DECREASE IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. KENWORTH HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR IT. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER HE KNEW THE PART NUMBER OF THE REPLACEMENT DOOR ASSEMBLY FROM MEMORY AND STATED IN AN EMAIL BACK TO ME THAT KENWORTH HAS IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING TO FIX IT ON FUTURE MODELS. LABOR TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $3000 AND THE PART IS ANOTHER $886. WE HAVE 12 OF THESE VEHICLES, SO FAR 5 OF THE 12 HAVE BROKEN LEAVING MORE THAN ONE DRIVER STRUGGLING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE HIS WINDOW FOGGED UP SO BAD HE BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION WHEN THESE DEFROST DOORS BREAK AND IT CREATES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS TRUCKS CAN NOT JUST PULL OVER ANY SPOT THEY CHOOSE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND WAIT FOR A WINDOW TO THAW OUT. THERE ARE 2 ISSUES THAT HAPPEN ON THESE DOORS. 1 THE DOOR IS OVERFLEXED BY THE ELECTRIC ACTUATOR MOTOR AND SNAPS THE DRIVE COGS OFF OF THE DOOR. 2 THE DOORS EITHER SHRINK OR ARE TOO SMALL TO BEGIN WITH AND THE DRIVE COG DOES NOT MAKE FULL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUATOR MOTOR CAUSING THE TEETH TO STRIP OUT AS IN THE PHOTOS ATTACHED. THE DRIVE COG SHOULD BE EXTRUDED FROM THE HOUSING BUT AS YOU CAN SEE ARE SHRUNK INSIDE THE HOUSING. *TR

THE DEFROST DOORS IN THE T680 IS WEAK AND BREAKS OFTEN LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT ANY DEFROST CAUSING HIS VISIBILITY TO DECREASE IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. KENWORTH HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REPAIR IT. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER HE KNEW THE PART NUMBER OF THE REPLACEMENT DOOR ASSEMBLY FROM MEMORY AND STATED IN AN EMAIL BACK TO ME THAT KENWORTH HAS IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING TO FIX IT ON FUTURE MODELS. LABOR TO REPAIR THIS IS OVER $3000 AND THE PART IS ANOTHER $886. WE HAVE 12 OF THESE VEHICLES, SO FAR 5 OF THE 12 HAVE BROKEN LEAVING MORE THAN ONE DRIVER STRUGGLING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE HIS WINDOW FOGGED UP SO BAD HE BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLES ARE IN MOTION WHEN THESE DEFROST DOORS BREAK AND IT CREATES A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AS TRUCKS CAN NOT JUST PULL OVER ANY SPOT THEY CHOOSE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND WAIT FOR A WINDOW TO THAW OUT. THERE ARE 2 ISSUES THAT HAPPEN ON THESE DOORS. 1 THE DOOR IS OVERFLEXED BY THE ELECTRIC ACTUATOR MOTOR AND SNAPS THE DRIVE COGS OFF OF THE DOOR. 2 THE DOORS EITHER SHRINK OR ARE TOO SMALL TO BEGIN WITH AND THE DRIVE COG DOES NOT MAKE FULL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUATOR MOTOR CAUSING THE TEETH TO STRIP OUT AS IN THE PHOTOS ATTACHED. THE DRIVE COG SHOULD BE EXTRUDED FROM THE HOUSING BUT AS YOU CAN SEE ARE SHRUNK INSIDE THE HOUSING. *TR

TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATION. MULTIPLE TIRES. REGUL GL283A 245/70R19.5 GUIZHOU TYRE CORP

I WAS A HARBOR DRIVER THAT HAULED REFERS FROM PORT TO YARD COMPANY TRUCKS THAT WERE ISSUED FOR HARBOR DRIVERS WERE KENWORTHS T700 WITH SUPERSINGLESS TIRES DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE THE MANUFACTURES ORIGINAL TIRES. I WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT IN WHICH I FEEL THERE WAS SOME MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH TRUCK I WAS TOLD TO USE BY MANAGEMENT AFTER DOING MY BASIC INSPECTION EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LEARNED FROM OTHER DRIVERS THAT TRUCK KW T700 2013 VIN# [XXX] // [XXX] HAD PREVIOUS SUSPENSION AND BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT WERE FIXED BY COMPANY MECHANICS AND TRUCK WAS CLEARED FOR HARBOR OPERATIONS. IF POSSIBLE SINCE COMPANY HARBOR DRIVERS ARE NOT GIVEN THE WEIGHT OF THE REFERS THAT THEY WILL BE PICKING UP FROM HARBOR JUST THE CONTAINER # AND PIN ARE LISTED ON DRIVER WORK SCHEDULE COMPANY DRIVERS UNKNOWINGLY HAUL HEAVY WEIGHT CONTAINERS SO A SUSPENSION PROBLEM OR TIRE / BRAKE PROBLEM COULD THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SHARE THE ROADS WITH TRUCKS.THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT I WAS BOBTAIL TO THE PORT BUT ON THE OUT WITH LOAD APPROXIMATELY 2MILES DRIVING I FELT THE TRUCK STRANGE WHEN LIKE SUSPENSION OR BRAKES THEN FELT VIBRATION THEN I WAS ON THE UPSIDEDOWN THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT OR INVOLVED. TWO YEARS I HAULED REFERS ROM THE PORT FOR COMPANY WITHOUT AN INCIDENT SINCE NEW LOGISTIC MANAGER CAME HE STARTED INSTALLING NEW TIRES( FRONT) ON COMPANY TRUCKS AND REMOVING RUBBER AIRHOSES FOR PLASTIC HOSES I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS WAS COMPANY ERROR OR MANUFACTURE ERROR ON THE TRUCK THANK YOU. COMPANY DRIVER ICAN SEND YOU PIC IF U REACH ME AT MY EMAIL. *TR

TRU-FLEX TORSIONAL BELLOWS PIPE CONNECTING ENGINE TURBO CHARGER AND EXHAUST PIPE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT LEAKS HOT EXHAUST GASES INTO CAB WHERE OPERATOR IS LOCATED. HOT EXHAUST GASES ESCAPE FROM THIS FREQUENTLY FAILING PART AND STARTS FIRES ON NEARBY COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS. FMCSA PART 393.83 2 E AND G IS VIOLATED. THIS PROBLEM EXTENDS AT LEAST TO MODEL YEAR 2010 THRU 2014 IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORMS. OPERATORS ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DEVICES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. SOME OPERATORS HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SMALL FIRES AND THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST ONE FIRE DESTROYING A TRUCK. MOST OF THESE FIRES HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED BY THE OWNER OPERATORS WHEN THEY ARE SMALL. THESE FIRES ARE ESPECIALLY COMMON ON TRUCKS USED FOR CARRYING LOGS IN THE UP OF MICHIGAN. ONE SPECIFIC FIRE WAS REPORTED TO MICHIGAN STATE POLICE AND MICHIGAMME/SPUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING ON A FOREST ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. OWNER OPERATORS ARE IN SOME CASES NOW PURCHASING EXTRA TRU-FLEX CONNECTORS TO HAVE ON HAND BECAUSE OF THE HIGH FAILURE RATE. EXACT DATES OF ALL FIRES IS NOT KNOWN.