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2003 Kenworth T2000 Recalls & Complaints

5

open safety recalls on record

Critical

2 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical03V045000

Exterior Lighting

THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND/OR POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE MISSING GROMMET ON ALL AFFECTED CHASSIS. IF A CONNECTOR IS FOUND DEFECTIVE, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

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.

Serious03V168000

Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly

IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. PETERBILT'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. KENWORTH'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.

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.

Serious03V410000

Steering:Linkages:Knuckle:Spindle:Arm

IF THE CRACK SHOULD PROPAGATE OVER TIME, THE BALL COULD BECOME LOOSE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA SPICER INTEGRAL KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES, THE STEER AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A LONGITUDINAL CRACK IN THE STEER ARM.

Serious03V234000

Unknown Or Other

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A PERSON TO SLIP AND/OR FALL AND COULD LEAD TO PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE GRABHANDLE LOCATION AND IF DETERMINED TO BE MOUNTED TOO HIGH, THE HANDLE WILL BE RELOCATED TO THE PROPER HEIGHT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH VERTICAL TAIL PIPES, THE FRAME ACCESS GRABHANDLE IS MOUNTED TOO HIGH.

Moderate04V410000

Structure

CRACK IN THE BRACKET MAY LEAD TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRACKET CAUSING THE STEP TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL STEPS ON IT, CAUSING A FALL.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE BATTERY BOX SUPPORT BRACKET AND STEP SUPPORT BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BRACKET, USED TO SUPPORT THE BATTERY BOX AND STEP, CAN CRACK.

Complaint volume

2 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 2 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine And Engine Cooling1 · 50%Exterior Lighting · Turn …1 · 50%
  1. Engine And Engine Cooling — 1 reports
  2. Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1997 (4) · 1998 (4) · 1999 (8) · 2000 (6) · 2001 (5) · 2002 (3) · 2003 · 2004 (7) · 2006 (7) · 2007 (11) · 2008 (14)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.