Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 2019 Kenworth T680 with NHTSA between 2019 and 2025.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 49
Against the median year of the Kenworth T680. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
50% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 73
43% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2019 Kenworth T680
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
321.4%
Median failure at 432,549 miles
Brakes
321.4%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 222,500 mi
Other & Unspecified
214.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 40 mi
Body & Structure
214.3%
Median failure at 40 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
214.3%
Electrical System
17.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Engine & Cooling
17.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2019peak 3Jan 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2019 Kenworth T680
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE21018Opened 16 Jul 2021Closed 10 Oct 2025PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:AIR:CHAMBER
Haldex Brake Chamber Failures
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE21018) based on eleven Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ). These VOQs included seven wheel-end fires on various Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.Several of the VOQs were submitted by a maintenance facility stating that the fires were due to power spring fractures within brake chambers manufactured by Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems (Haldex). According to the reports, the fractured spring punctured the brake chamber diaphragm, resulting in a partial loss of compressed air to the park brakes, causing the brakes to dra...
Recalls on the 2019 Kenworth T680
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2024121171 units in Canada
Brakes
Issue: On certain trucks, the reservoir tank for the air brake system is too small. In certain situations, this could cause reduced braking. Canadian regulations require enough air reservoir capacity to ensure the brakes work even with heavy use or when there is a partial loss of the air system. Safety Risk: Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your truck to a dealership to replace or add an additional air reservoir tank, as necessary.
Recall 2022210985 units in Canada
Steering
Issue: On certain trucks, the fasteners that attach the steer arm to the steering knuckle may fail. If this happens, the steer arm could separate from the steering knuckle and cause a loss of steering control. Note: This recall only affects trucks equipped with a Dana D-series steer axle. Safety Risk: A loss of steering control could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development.
Recall 2022185846 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain trucks, the daytime running lamps (DRLs) may not turn on when the vehicle starts moving. Canadian regulations require that DRLs must be on while driving, unless the headlamps or fog lamps are switched on. Note: This recall only affects trucks that were repaired under recall 21KWD (Transport Canada recall 2021-287). Safety Risk: Driving without daytime running lights could make the vehicle less visible to others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealership to update the vehicle software.
Recall 20212879,308 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain trucks, the driver may be able to turn off the daytime running lamps (DRLs) while driving. Canadian regulations require that DRLs must stay on while driving, unless the headlamps or fog lamps are switched on. Safety Risk: Driving without daytime running lights could make the vehicle less visible to others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to update the vehicle software.
Recall 202046120 units in Canada
Brakes
Issue: Certain trucks were built with a standard rear brake ABS modulator valve instead of a quick release valve. This could result in an increased stopping distance. Note: This recall only affects certain trucks equipped with WABCO 6S/6M ABS brake systems and drum brakes. Safety Risk: An incorrect ABS modulator valve can cause increased stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a Kenworth dealer to replace the standard rear brake ABS modulator valves with quick release ABS modulator valves.
Recall 202014865,284 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain trucks, the warning light for the tractor anti-lock brake system (ABS) may not turn on if the system loses power. If this happens, the driver will not get warning that the ABS is not working properly. Note: This problem would also cause the traction control (TC) and electronic stability control (ESC) lights not to turn on. Safety Risk: If a driver is not warned that the ABS is not working properly, there could be an increased risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to update the software for the cab control module (CECU).
Recall 201863272 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
On certain trucks, the intermediate side marker lamp/turn signals do not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The intermediate side marker lamp/turn signals, mounted to the side extenders, do not include the required reflex reflectors. This could decrease vehicle conspicuity and potentially increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will install reflex reflective tape to the side extender near the intermediate side marker lamps.
Recall 20185272,974 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain trucks built with a Cummins X15 or ISX15 engine equipped with nylon fuel lines and a banjo bolt on the fuel pump, a blockage in the fuel cooling system may cause a fuel line to burst. This could result in a significant fuel leak onto the roadway, which would create a road hazard for other motorists. Additionally, this condition could also cause an engine stall without warning, without the ability to restart the engine. Both of these conditions may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Cummins-authorized dealers will replace the affected nylon line with a steel line.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Harvey, ILFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We have under hood fire during operating the truck. The driver was driving in TX. The police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. The truck need to be towed to terminal. The two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. We asked some privet mechanics and they think that fire could start from starter. The truck is 2019 T680 455,972 miles with engine Paccar MX-13. The truck is available fot inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11544747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harvey, ILFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We have under hood fire during operating the truck. The driver was driving in TX. The police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. The truck need to be towed to terminal. The two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. We asked some privet mechanics and they think that fire could start from starter. The truck is 2019 T680 455,972 miles with engine Paccar MX-13. The truck is available fot inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11544747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harvey, ILFire
ENGINE
We have under hood fire during operating the truck. The driver was driving in TX. The police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. The truck need to be towed to terminal. The two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. We asked some privet mechanics and they think that fire could start from starter. The truck is 2019 T680 455,972 miles with engine Paccar MX-13. The truck is available fot inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11544747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesSioux Falls, SDFire
SERVICE BRAKES
UNIT DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND BRAKE CHAMBER FAILED CAUSING BRAKES TO SLOWLY APPLY WITHOUT OPERATOR BEING AWARE UNTIL SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVE AXLE BRAKES. THE LOW AIR PRESSURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, STAYED HIGH ENOUGH NOT TO ILLUMINATE A LOW AIR WARNING. 2 INDEPENDENT FIRE INSPECTIONS PROVED THIS WAS A HALDEX BRAKE CHAMBER FAILURE. THE CHAMBER WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND IT IS IN THE RANGE WHERE HALDEX HAD MANUFACTURING DEFECTS OF THE POWER COIL IN THE PARKING CHAMBER, HALDEX CONFIRMED THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE 3030 CHAMBER, AND NOT ISSUING A RECALL EVEN THOUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AS RISK. SPRING BRAKE BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAUSING ANOTHER TOTAL LOSS OF TRUCK AND TRAILER. ENTIRE INTERSTATE HAD TO BE SHUTDOWN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. CAUSING MORE RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY THE HALDEX CHAMBER HAS A FATAL DESIGN FLAW THAT HALDEX HAS ADMITTED TO AND CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING AND BRAKE FIRES, CAUSING TIRE EXPLOSIONS AND CARGO EXPLOSIONS, WHEN THE SPRING COMPRESSES THE POWER COAT PROTECTIVE COATING IS DAMAGED AND CAUSES THE POWER SPRING TO RUST THIS RUST THEN CAUSES THE SPRING TO BRAKE AND PUNCTURE THE INTERNAL DIAPHRAM OF THE CHAMBER. HALDEX IS ALSO AWARE THAT THE METAL USED IN MAKING THE SPRING CANNOT HANDLE THE PRESSURE FORCED UPON IT WITHOUT BREAKING EITHER BY TOOLING CAUSING MARKS AND FATIGUE IN THE METAL ITSELF. NHTSA HAS ALSO DONE ITS TESTING AND CONFIRMED ALL OF THESE FINDING AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #11355468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40 milesWasco, CA1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY FATHER WAS FUELING THIS BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH CNG (COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS) WHEN ONE OF THE TANKS EXPLODED. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY AT THE ANG (AMERICAN NATURAL GAS) STATION IN BUTTONWILLOW CALIFORNIA AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 5 AND HWY 58. MY FATHER IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE ICU IN UCLA WITH MULTIPLE BROKE BONES AS WELL AS BLEEDING AND SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11164528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40 milesWasco, CA1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FATHER WAS FUELING THIS BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH CNG (COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS) WHEN ONE OF THE TANKS EXPLODED. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY AT THE ANG (AMERICAN NATURAL GAS) STATION IN BUTTONWILLOW CALIFORNIA AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 5 AND HWY 58. MY FATHER IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE ICU IN UCLA WITH MULTIPLE BROKE BONES AS WELL AS BLEEDING AND SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11164528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Pittsboro, IN
POWER TRAIN
When I was driving on the highway the transmission fault error came on and my truck came to a stop on on the highway. It changed gears weirdly and kept the rpm’s high. Once it came to a stop I turned the truck off and on and it work fine. This has happened multiple times and a nationwide failure of the MTM and transmission is the cause of this. Many of my fellow drivers are having this same issues and are having to replace the whole transmission due to the MTM failing and destroying the transmission.
NHTSA complaint #11639536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Worth, FL
POWER TRAIN
The Eaton 12 speeds that these trucks come equipped with are failing just after the warranty expires. Lots of drivers with the same problem.
NHTSA complaint #11630873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harvey, ILFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We have under hood fire during operating the truck. The driver was driving in TX. The police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. The truck need to be towed to terminal. The two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. We asked some privet mechanics and they think that fire could start from starter. The truck is 2019 T680 455,972 miles with engine Paccar MX-13. The truck is available fot inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11544747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harvey, ILFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We have under hood fire during operating the truck. The driver was driving in TX. The police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. The truck need to be towed to terminal. The two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. We asked some privet mechanics and they think that fire could start from starter. The truck is 2019 T680 455,972 miles with engine Paccar MX-13. The truck is available fot inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11544747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harvey, ILFire
ENGINE
We have under hood fire during operating the truck. The driver was driving in TX. The police and fire department need to be involved to extinguish the fire. The truck need to be towed to terminal. The two dealers were doing estimate and the try to look up the causes of the fire, but is seems they not able to find it. We asked some privet mechanics and they think that fire could start from starter. The truck is 2019 T680 455,972 miles with engine Paccar MX-13. The truck is available fot inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11544747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 432,549 milesHouston, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
The contact owns a 2019 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal popping noise detected and the vehicle decelerated and the fuel system detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the pump bolt had fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 432,549.
NHTSA complaint #11469311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 432,549 milesHouston, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
The contact owns a 2019 Kenworth T680. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, there was an abnormal popping noise detected and the vehicle decelerated and the fuel system detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the pump bolt had fractured. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 432,549.
NHTSA complaint #11469311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesSioux Falls, SDFire
SERVICE BRAKES
UNIT DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND BRAKE CHAMBER FAILED CAUSING BRAKES TO SLOWLY APPLY WITHOUT OPERATOR BEING AWARE UNTIL SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVE AXLE BRAKES. THE LOW AIR PRESSURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE, STAYED HIGH ENOUGH NOT TO ILLUMINATE A LOW AIR WARNING. 2 INDEPENDENT FIRE INSPECTIONS PROVED THIS WAS A HALDEX BRAKE CHAMBER FAILURE. THE CHAMBER WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND IT IS IN THE RANGE WHERE HALDEX HAD MANUFACTURING DEFECTS OF THE POWER COIL IN THE PARKING CHAMBER, HALDEX CONFIRMED THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE 3030 CHAMBER, AND NOT ISSUING A RECALL EVEN THOUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AS RISK. SPRING BRAKE BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAUSING ANOTHER TOTAL LOSS OF TRUCK AND TRAILER. ENTIRE INTERSTATE HAD TO BE SHUTDOWN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. CAUSING MORE RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY THE HALDEX CHAMBER HAS A FATAL DESIGN FLAW THAT HALDEX HAS ADMITTED TO AND CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING AND BRAKE FIRES, CAUSING TIRE EXPLOSIONS AND CARGO EXPLOSIONS, WHEN THE SPRING COMPRESSES THE POWER COAT PROTECTIVE COATING IS DAMAGED AND CAUSES THE POWER SPRING TO RUST THIS RUST THEN CAUSES THE SPRING TO BRAKE AND PUNCTURE THE INTERNAL DIAPHRAM OF THE CHAMBER. HALDEX IS ALSO AWARE THAT THE METAL USED IN MAKING THE SPRING CANNOT HANDLE THE PRESSURE FORCED UPON IT WITHOUT BREAKING EITHER BY TOOLING CAUSING MARKS AND FATIGUE IN THE METAL ITSELF. NHTSA HAS ALSO DONE ITS TESTING AND CONFIRMED ALL OF THESE FINDING AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #11355468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 245,000 milesWaddell, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM WILL GO OFF FOR NO REASON CAUSING A SUDDEN HARD BRAKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON WET OR ICY ROADS, IN CLOSE QUARTER CONSTRUCTION ZONES OR IF VEHICLE HAPPENS TO BE IN A TURN. UNFORTUNATELY IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE WOULD BE AN ACCIDENT, WHICH I HAVE HEARD HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE TAKEN TRUCK TO KENWORTH SERVICE TWICE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IT IS A REQUIRED SYSTEM AND ARE JUST VERY SENSITIVE. I SEE NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS SYSTEM. WHEN I COME UPON AN ACTUAL HAZARD IT DOESN'T GO OFF. IT IS STRESSFUL TO DRIVE AND WONDER AT ANY GIVEN TIME IF THE HARD BREAK AND LIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OFF AND HOPE YOU ARE NOT AROUND OTHER VEHICLES THAT WOULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THIS UNEXPECTED STOPPING OF A 80000 POUND VEHICLE. HOPEFULLY DRIVERS WILL NOT FIND OUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN OF THIS OCCURRED ON WET OR ICED ROADS.
NHTSA complaint #11339638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE TRACTOR COMES WITH NO EMERGENCY TRAILER BRAKES HANDLE IN THE CAB LIKE THE REST OF TRUCKS IT MAKE IT VERY DANGEROUS WHILE HAULING 80,000 POUNDS AND THE SERVICE BRAKES TAKES FOREVER TO STOP THE TRUCK ALSO THE TOP OF THE CAB AT THE JOINTS IS LEAKING WATER NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN BOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2019 KW THEY SAY THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE TRUCKS NOW WITHOUT THE TRAILER BRAKES HANDLE I JUST HAVE TO USE THE SERVICE BRAKES
NHTSA complaint #11229322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
THE TRACTOR COMES WITH NO EMERGENCY TRAILER BRAKES HANDLE IN THE CAB LIKE THE REST OF TRUCKS IT MAKE IT VERY DANGEROUS WHILE HAULING 80,000 POUNDS AND THE SERVICE BRAKES TAKES FOREVER TO STOP THE TRUCK ALSO THE TOP OF THE CAB AT THE JOINTS IS LEAKING WATER NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN BOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2019 KW THEY SAY THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE TRUCKS NOW WITHOUT THE TRAILER BRAKES HANDLE I JUST HAVE TO USE THE SERVICE BRAKES
NHTSA complaint #11229322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40 milesWasco, CA1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY FATHER WAS FUELING THIS BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH CNG (COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS) WHEN ONE OF THE TANKS EXPLODED. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY AT THE ANG (AMERICAN NATURAL GAS) STATION IN BUTTONWILLOW CALIFORNIA AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 5 AND HWY 58. MY FATHER IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE ICU IN UCLA WITH MULTIPLE BROKE BONES AS WELL AS BLEEDING AND SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11164528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40 milesWasco, CA1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FATHER WAS FUELING THIS BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH CNG (COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS) WHEN ONE OF THE TANKS EXPLODED. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY AT THE ANG (AMERICAN NATURAL GAS) STATION IN BUTTONWILLOW CALIFORNIA AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 5 AND HWY 58. MY FATHER IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE ICU IN UCLA WITH MULTIPLE BROKE BONES AS WELL AS BLEEDING AND SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11164528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40 milesWasco, CA1 injured
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY FATHER WAS FUELING THIS BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH CNG (COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS) WHEN ONE OF THE TANKS EXPLODED. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY AT THE ANG (AMERICAN NATURAL GAS) STATION IN BUTTONWILLOW CALIFORNIA AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 5 AND HWY 58. MY FATHER IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE ICU IN UCLA WITH MULTIPLE BROKE BONES AS WELL AS BLEEDING AND SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11164528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.