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2021 Kenworth T880 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 2021 Kenworth T880, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

8
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

8 safety recalls for the 2021 Kenworth T880

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

  1. Software (electrical system) and service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module

    NHTSA 24V915000 Reported 220,764 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop…

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at…

  2. Column shift (power train)

    NHTSA 24V190000 Reported 70,509 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at…

  3. Reservoir/tank (service brakes)

    NHTSA 24V145000 Reported 936 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2009-2021 Kenworth C500, 2012-2021 Kenworth T440, 2009-2015 Kenworth T660, 2015-2024 Kenworth T680, 2009-2024 Kenworth T800, 2009-2020 Kenworth T370, 2014-2023 Kenworth T880, 2011-2016 Kenworth T470, 2023 Kenworth T480, and 2009-2019 Kenworth W900 vehicles. The air tanks have an…

    Remedy: Dealers will install the correct volume air tanks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 12, 2024. Additional owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2025. Owners may contact PACCAR…

  4. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 21V00N000 Reported 1,107 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles. The methane detection system will not function if the system loses power.

    Remedy: Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220, and Kenworth customer service at…

  5. Software (electrical system) and service brakes, air

    NHTSA 21V906000 Reported 908 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Kenworth T880, W990, Peterbilt 567, 579, 389, and 2022 Peterbilt 536, 537 wrecker and auto hauler vehicles. The work brake (winch brake) may unintentionally disengage the service brakes during winching operations, causing the vehicle to roll.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); or 1-940-591-4220…

  6. Fuel rail (fuel system)

    NHTSA 21V391000 Reported 612 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 520, 567, Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T800 and T880 vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's…

  7. Engine

    NHTSA 21V080000 Reported 132 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Kenworth T680, T880, W990, T800, W900 and Peterbilt 579, 567, 389, 367 vehicles equipped with a Cummins X15 engine. The capscrews that attach the flywheel to the crankshaft may have been improperly torqued, allowing the flywheel to detach.

    Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will properly torque the capscrews and the engine will also be inspected for damage and, if necessary, repaired, free of charge. The recall began on March 29, 2021. Owners may…

  8. Axle assembly (power train)

    NHTSA 20V506000 Reported 1,097 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Peterbilt 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567 and Kenworth T800, T880, W900, W990 vehicles equipped with Watson and Chalin steerable lift axle suspension systems (model SL2065). The axles may have lower rear pivot bolts that are not long enough to sufficiently engage the locking…

    Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect suspect chassis and replace the pivot bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at…

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Kenworth T880 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 100 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tractor ABS system applies the brakes to the trailers while cornering causing the vehicle to become uncontrollable. This usually occurs while entering or exiting a highway at speeds above 30 MPH. The”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 15, 2021 · Service brakes

Compare Kenworth T880 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Kenworth T880 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2011 Kenworth T88020
2012 Kenworth T88030
2013 Kenworth T88070
2014 Kenworth T880121
2015 Kenworth T880120
2016 Kenworth T880152
2017 Kenworth T880111
2018 Kenworth T880163
2019 Kenworth T880100
2020 Kenworth T880100
2021 Kenworth T88081
2022 Kenworth T88080
2023 Kenworth T88070
2024 Kenworth T88071
2025 Kenworth T88091
2026 Kenworth T88020
2027 Kenworth T88020

Checking a specific 2021 Kenworth T880

How do I know if my 2021 Kenworth T880 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. 8 campaigns currently list the 2021 Kenworth T880; 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 20V506000).

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.