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Kenworth C500Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 5 owner complaints and 49 safety recalls on record for the Kenworth C500.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints5Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls491975–2025 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Kenworth C500 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C500 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2025Too new–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2023Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2022Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2021Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2020Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2019Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2018Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2017Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2016Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2015Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2014Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2013Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2008Not rated–/1000 complaints · 9 recalls2007Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls2006Not rated–/1001 complaint · 5 recalls2005Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2004Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2003Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2002Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2001Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 7 recalls1998Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1997Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1996Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1995Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1994Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Kenworth C500 problems

All model years combined: 5 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system11
Tires11
Trailer hitches10
Wheels10
49 recalls

Kenworth C500 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

80%Delivery: fuel pump24V-789 · 2025 · Oct 23, 2024 · 5,690 vehicles24%Supply: reservoir/tank24V-145 · 2009–2021 · Feb 23, 2024 · 936 vehicles76%Steering22V-547 · 2022–2023 · Jul 28, 2022 · 47,500 vehicles75%Power train: clutch assembly18V-931 · 2018–2019 · Dec 21, 2018 · 25,556 vehicles–Engine: diesel18V-657 · 2017–2019 · Sep 21, 2018 · 48,896 vehicles58%Electrical system: wiring18V-555 · 2016–2019 · Aug 22, 2018 · 11,429 vehicles–Fuel system, diesel17V-443 · 2018 · Jul 13, 2017 · 1,737 vehicles–Ignition: module16V-426 · 2017 · Jun 10, 2016 · 3,227 vehicles60%Windshield wiper/washer: motor15V-271 · 2011–2016 · May 8, 2015 · 104,807 vehicles65%Electrical system14V-722 · 2015 · Nov 10, 2014 · 1,380 vehicles59%Seat belts14V-013 · 2014 · Jan 24, 2014 · 10,414 vehicles76%Exterior lighting: tail lights13V-612 · 2014 · Dec 5, 2013 · 5,087 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 49 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the C500

  1. TRAILER LIGHT PLUG FAILUREPE08011 · 2006 · closed May 5, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-190