Illustration2006 KENWORTH CONVENTIONAL, WAS TRAVELING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE AT MILE POST 201 EASTBOUND WHEN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, LINE/WIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0753-91) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF
2006 Kenworth C500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all C500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
1 reportsOfficial recalls
508V099000 · Service Brakes, Air:slack Adjusters
Mar 4, 2008
PACCAR IS RECALLING 130 MY 2005-2007 KENWORTH C500, T800, W900, AND PETERBILT MODELS 357 AND 379 TRACTOR TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH FABCO SLACK ADJUSTERS ON SISU AXLES. THE SLACK ADJUSTERS MAY FAIL AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE CRACK RENDERING THE SLACK ADJUSTER INOPERATIVE. THIS COULD REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.
07V107000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Mar 16, 2007
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE WIRING, PARTS, OR TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING REQUIRED FOR THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED WERE EITHER NOT INSTALLED, CONNECTED, OR PROGRAMMED PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHEN LEFT IN DRIVE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE WITHOUT WARNING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO ENSURE THE AUTO NEUTRAL FEATURE FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND, IF NEEDED, WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 9, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.
07V090000 · Service Brakes, Air
Mar 9, 2007
CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE BRAKE TIMING REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE VALVE WAS MOVED TO THE OPPOSITE RAIL, INCREASING THE LENGTH OF THE AIR LINE, WHICH IN TURN INCREASED THE WHEELBASE REQUIRING A DUAL RELAY VALVE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A SINGLE VALVE SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF STOPPING DISTANCE WAS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CONVERT THE SINGLE RELAY VALVE TO A DUAL RELAY VALVE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.
06V391000 · Power Train:driveline
Oct 13, 2006
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CHALMERS REAR SUSPENSIONS, THE ADJUSTABLE TORQUE ROD END CASTINGS MAY BE BRITTLE. A BRITTLE ROD END CASTING MAY FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLES' REAR AXLES TO BECOME MISALIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MISALIGNMENT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AT SPEEDS THAT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A SUSPECT TORQUE ROD END. IF A SUSPECT TORQUE ROD END IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE TORQUE ROD WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
05V570000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Dec 22, 2005
ON CERTAIN TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PACCAR, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440, OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE08011 · Trailer Light Plug Failure
Opened Feb 8, 2008 · Closed May 5, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Exterior Lighting
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF KENWORTH PRODUCTS BASED ON THEIR FIELD COMMUNICATION TIB # 34-31.KENWORTH INTRODUCED THE QCS II STA-DRY TRAILER CABLE IN MAY 2006.THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN STEMMED FROM FIELD FEEDBACK THAT INDICATED A FLEXIBILITY PROBLEM WITH THE QCS II CABLE CONNECTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIGHTING TO THE TRAILER.ODI BELIEVES A LOSS OF LIGHTING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TRAILER'S VISIBILITY. FURTHER, THE RESULTING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS IS INHERENTLY CRITICAL TO HIGHWAY SAFETY, DAY OR NIGHT.KENWORTH HAS UPGRADED THE TIB REPAIR TO A SAFETY RECALL.KENWORTH DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, THUS PROVIDING ABETTER CABLE CONNECTION. THE DEFECT NOTIFICATION WAS SUBMITTED ON 4/25/08 (COPY ATTACHED).TRAILERS BUILT BETWEEN MAY 24 AND NOVEMBER 21, 2006 (MODEL YEAR 2007 TRAILERS) WILL BE REMEDIED.THE POPULATION TO BE REMEDIED IS 3,573 IN THE UNITED STATES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF KENWORTH PRODUCTS BASED ON THEIR FIELD COMMUNICATION TIB # 34-31.KENWORTH INTRODUCED THE QCS II STA-DRY TRAILER CABLE IN MAY 2006.THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN STEMMED FROM FIELD FEEDBACK THAT INDICATED A FLEXIBILITY PROBLEM WITH THE QCS II CABLE CONNECTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIGHTING TO THE TRAILER.ODI BELIEVES A LOSS OF LIGHTING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TRAILER'S VISIBILITY. FURTHER, THE RESULTING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS IS INHERENTLY CRITICAL TO HIGHWAY SAFETY, DAY OR NIGHT.KENWORTH HAS UPGRADED THE TIB REPAIR TO A SAFETY RECALL.KENWORTH DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, THUS PROVIDING ABETTER CABLE CONNECTION. THE DEFECT NOTIFICATION WAS SUBMITTED ON 4/25/08 (COPY ATTACHED).TRAILERS BUILT BETWEEN MAY 24 AND NOVEMBER 21, 2006 (MODEL YEAR 2007 TRAILERS) WILL BE REMEDIED.THE POPULATION TO BE REMEDIED IS 3,573 IN THE UNITED STATES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Exterior Lighting
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF KENWORTH PRODUCTS BASED ON THEIR FIELD COMMUNICATION TIB # 34-31.KENWORTH INTRODUCED THE QCS II STA-DRY TRAILER CABLE IN MAY 2006.THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN STEMMED FROM FIELD FEEDBACK THAT INDICATED A FLEXIBILITY PROBLEM WITH THE QCS II CABLE CONNECTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIGHTING TO THE TRAILER.ODI BELIEVES A LOSS OF LIGHTING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TRAILER'S VISIBILITY. FURTHER, THE RESULTING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS IS INHERENTLY CRITICAL TO HIGHWAY SAFETY, DAY OR NIGHT.KENWORTH HAS UPGRADED THE TIB REPAIR TO A SAFETY RECALL.KENWORTH DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, THUS PROVIDING ABETTER CABLE CONNECTION. THE DEFECT NOTIFICATION WAS SUBMITTED ON 4/25/08 (COPY ATTACHED).TRAILERS BUILT BETWEEN MAY 24 AND NOVEMBER 21, 2006 (MODEL YEAR 2007 TRAILERS) WILL BE REMEDIED.THE POPULATION TO BE REMEDIED IS 3,573 IN THE UNITED STATES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.