1999 Kenworth C500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 1999 Kenworth C500, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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7 safety recalls for the 1999 Kenworth C500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, air
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…
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain arvinmeritor and dana axles. Peterbilt will recall 1,434 vehicles equipped with arvinmeritor axles manufactured from december 11, 1999, to may 14, 2000, and from july 22 to september 30, 2000. Kenworth will recall 859 vehicles equipped with arvinmeritor vehicles manufactured…
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends. Owner notification began july 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain meritor axles. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends. Owner notification began october 24, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began on april 10, 2001, to kenworth owners and on april 25, 2001, to peterbilt owners. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
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Suspension: lower arm
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…
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Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with an optional firewall-mounted circuit breaker. The main cab power and battery power leads were attached incorrectly. This condition can result in the main cab power being unprotected.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and correct the problem, as needed. Owner notification began february 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain meritor axles. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Kenworth C500 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“1999 kenworth conventional, unit 1 was exiting the emergency pull off. The trailer of unit 1 became disconnected and the trailer fell onto the pavement, causing damage. *bf trailer info: 1993 great da”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 6, 2011 · Trailer hitches
Compare Kenworth C500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kenworth C500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 Kenworth C500 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 Kenworth C500 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 Kenworth C500 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 Kenworth C500 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 0 |
| 1997 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 Kenworth C500 | 7 | 1 |
| 2000 Kenworth C500 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 Kenworth C500 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 Kenworth C500 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 Kenworth C500 | 5 | 1 |
| 2007 Kenworth C500 | 6 | 1 |
| 2008 Kenworth C500 | 9 | 0 |
| 2009 Kenworth C500 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 1 |
| 2011 Kenworth C500 | 6 | 0 |
| 2012 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 1 |
| 2013 Kenworth C500 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 Kenworth C500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 Kenworth C500 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 Kenworth C500 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 Kenworth C500 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1999 Kenworth C500
How do I know if my 1999 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. 7 campaigns currently list the 1999 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 00V246102).
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
- T68077 complaints
- T200038 complaints
- T80033 complaints
- W90032 complaints
- Kenworth23 complaints
- T60016 complaints
- Conventional10 complaints
- T88010 complaints
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.