1997 Kenworth T800 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
9 safety recalls list the 1997 Kenworth T800, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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9 safety recalls for the 1997 Kenworth T800
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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Vehicle speed control
On certain vehicles equipped with cummins electronic control modules on the c8.3g and l10g engines, the ECM does not have the ability to detect a throttle fail-safe engine shutdown command. This could result in an unanticipated, uncommanded open throttle condition without warning.
Remedy: Cummins will notify the customers and replace the ECM. Owners should contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.
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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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Hub (wheels)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks built with arvinmeritor front axle ff-981. The wheel separator plates are incompatible with skf phase iv truck hub units incorporated into the arvinmeritor ff-981 front axle assemblies installed on vehicles with wheel mounting flanges of 10 mm or less and brake drum mounting flanges of 6 mm or less.
Remedy: Dealers will change the front hubs. Owner notification began december 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
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Labels (equipment)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor fg941 steer axles. The gross axle weight rating (gawr) was determined incorrectly and over-stated on the vehicle certification label. With the incorrect gawr listed, these labels do not meet the certification requirements of part 567, "requirements for manufacturers of motor…
Remedy: Vehicles will be remedied either by assigning the proper weight rating or, if possible, by changing the necessary components to meet the currently assigned weight rating. Owner notification began june 22, 2001. Owners…
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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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Hub (suspension)
Vehicle description: trucks assembled with skf level 2 truck hub units (thu) received from meritor. These hubs can fatigue crack.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these hubs with production level 3 hubs.
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Electrical system: front underhood
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.
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Hub (suspension)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with design level 1, rockwell ff980 series front axle. The front axle hub flange can develop cracks due to high stress levels.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the front hubs with an improved design level 2 hub.
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Suspension: rear
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with kenworth airglide 200 rear suspension. Due to materials used in the sway bar arms and studs as well as the stud plating material, stress corrosion cracking and bending fatigue can occur in the rear suspension sway bar arms and studs causing the stud to fail prematurely.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the arm assembly manufactured from a different material. New studs will be installed with different threads and different finish.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Kenworth T800 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I work for [xxx]. They are making me drive the truck unsafe without having any maintenance done to the truck and running over the hours from 12-20 hours a day. If they i don't take the loads they tell”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 23, 2010 · Engine and engine cooling
Compare Kenworth T800 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kenworth T800 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 Kenworth T800 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 Kenworth T800 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 Kenworth T800 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 Kenworth T800 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 Kenworth T800 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 Kenworth T800 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Kenworth T800 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 Kenworth T800 | 3 | 2 |
| 1995 Kenworth T800 | 5 | 2 |
| 1996 Kenworth T800 | 8 | 1 |
| 1997 Kenworth T800 | 9 | 1 |
| 1998 Kenworth T800 | 8 | 1 |
| 1999 Kenworth T800 | 12 | 4 |
| 2000 Kenworth T800 | 10 | 1 |
| 2001 Kenworth T800 | 10 | 1 |
| 2002 Kenworth T800 | 6 | 0 |
| 2003 Kenworth T800 | 7 | 1 |
| 2004 Kenworth T800 | 12 | 3 |
| 2005 Kenworth T800 | 12 | 3 |
| 2006 Kenworth T800 | 13 | 4 |
| 2007 Kenworth T800 | 20 | 1 |
| 2008 Kenworth T800 | 25 | 1 |
| 2009 Kenworth T800 | 19 | 2 |
| 2010 Kenworth T800 | 11 | 1 |
| 2011 Kenworth T800 | 13 | 1 |
| 2012 Kenworth T800 | 10 | 1 |
| 2013 Kenworth T800 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 Kenworth T800 | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 Kenworth T800 | 12 | 0 |
| 2016 Kenworth T800 | 12 | 1 |
| 2017 Kenworth T800 | 8 | 0 |
| 2018 Kenworth T800 | 11 | 1 |
| 2019 Kenworth T800 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020 Kenworth T800 | 9 | 0 |
| 2021 Kenworth T800 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 Kenworth T800 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Kenworth T800 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 Kenworth T800 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 Kenworth T800 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1997 Kenworth T800
How do I know if my 1997 Kenworth T800 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. 9 campaigns currently list the 1997 Kenworth T800; 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
- T68077 complaints
- T200038 complaints
- W90032 complaints
- Kenworth23 complaints
- T60016 complaints
- Conventional10 complaints
- T88010 complaints
- T3007 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.