RecallMyCar

1996 Kenworth C500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1996 Kenworth C500. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1996 Kenworth C500

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Service brakes, air

    NHTSA 03V126000 Reported 45 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR INCORPORATED

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will add an additional tank or change one of the existing air tanks to a larger size. Owner notification began on may 5, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…

  2. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 01V051000 Reported 209 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR, INCORPORATED

    Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with 54" rear axle spacing configuration of the airglide 200 suspension with the service application identified as logger, dump truck, or tanker. The rear suspension is regularly subjected to extreme articulation, resulting in flexing of the joint.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the lower sway arm brackets. Owner notification began march 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…

  3. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 98V129000 Reported 9,500 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR, INCORPORATED

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar 3406e engines. The routing of the electrical and fuel lines can cause chaffing of the wiring harness on the fuel line.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, adjust, and repair, if necessary, the fuel line and electrical harness.

  4. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 96V056000 Reported 617 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR, INCORPORATED

    The wires that correspond to the vehicle's rear turn signals were reversed when installed in the electrical connector.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the turn signal switch and, if necessary, replace the turn signal switch.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1996 Kenworth C500. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Kenworth C500 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Kenworth C500 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1975 Kenworth C50020
1976 Kenworth C50020
1977 Kenworth C50020
1978 Kenworth C50020
1979 Kenworth C50010
1980 Kenworth C50010
1981 Kenworth C50010
1989 Kenworth C50010
1990 Kenworth C50010
1991 Kenworth C50030
1992 Kenworth C50010
1993 Kenworth C50010
1994 Kenworth C50010
1995 Kenworth C50010
1996 Kenworth C50040
1997 Kenworth C50030
1998 Kenworth C50030
1999 Kenworth C50071
2000 Kenworth C50070
2001 Kenworth C50040
2002 Kenworth C50020
2003 Kenworth C50030
2004 Kenworth C50040
2005 Kenworth C50050
2006 Kenworth C50051
2007 Kenworth C50061
2008 Kenworth C50090
2009 Kenworth C50050
2010 Kenworth C50041
2011 Kenworth C50060
2012 Kenworth C50031
2013 Kenworth C50020
2014 Kenworth C50040
2015 Kenworth C50030
2016 Kenworth C50030
2017 Kenworth C50040
2018 Kenworth C50050
2019 Kenworth C50040
2020 Kenworth C50010
2021 Kenworth C50010
2022 Kenworth C50010
2023 Kenworth C50010
2025 Kenworth C50010

Checking a specific 1996 Kenworth C500

How do I know if my 1996 Kenworth C500 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1996 Kenworth C500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kenworth dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V051000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Kenworth models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.