The 2001 Kenworth T300 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,478 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
TRAILER HITCHES03V1680002003-05-05483 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.
Consequence
IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. PETERBILT'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. KENWORTH'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A…
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR02V0180012002-01-152,302 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PNEUMATIC ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) VALVE PACKAGES, THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THESE VALVE PACKAGES WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.
Consequence
BOLTS TORQUED BELOW SPECIFICATION WILL NOT RELIABLY PREVENT AIR LEAKAGE AT THE AFFECTED ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS ONCE THE COMPONENT BEGINS NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. IF AIR LEAKS DEVELOP AT ANY OF THE ABS VALVE PACKAGE INTERFACE JOINTS, BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE REDUCTIONS COULD OCCUR DURING BRAKING OR NORMAL…
Remedy
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT…
VISIBILITY01V3050002001-09-262,670 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS." THE MODE DOOR IN AN HVAC SYSTEM CAN BECOME INOPERABLE. THE MODE DOOR CAM AND ACTUATOR COULD BIND, CAUSING THE CAM RETAINING TABS TO SHEAR OFF.
Consequence
THIS FAILURE MAY INHIBIT THE ABILITY TO DIRECT AIR BLOWING FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM TO THE WINDSHIELD, POTENTIALLY REDUCING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MODE DOOR OPERATION AND REPLACE THE HVAC CAB MODE HOUSING ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 7, 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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC01V2680002001-08-233,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 10,000 OR 12,000 POUND DANA FRONT AXLES. A CONDITION CALLED BRAKE "SPRAG", WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY A NOISE AT THE END OF AN APPLIED STOP, CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS NOISE IS THE RESULT OF A PULSATION OF THE BRAKE LINING WITH THE BRAKE DRUM DURING…
Consequence
FAILURE OF THE TIE ROD END CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LINING ON THE FRONT AXLE OF EACH VEHICLE WITH A LINING MADE OF A DIFFERENT COMPOSITION. IN ADDITION, THE TIE ROD ENDS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 12, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND…
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR01V1880002001-06-1223 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVING AN INTENDED SERVICE CODE OF "FIRE SERVICE" AND EITHER TYPE 24 OR LARGER FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS OR TYPE 36 REAR BRAKE CHAMBERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A COMBINED AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME LESS THAN 12…
Consequence
UNUSUALLY FREQUENT APPLICATIONS OF THE AIR BRAKES COULD DEPLETE THE AVAILABLE AIR SUPPLY MORE QUICKLY THAN EXPECTED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL AIR TANK ON CHASSIS WITH A SINGLE REAR AXLE. ON TANDEM REAR AXLE CHASSIS, DEALER WILL REPLACE AN EXISTING AIR TANK WITH A LARGER AIR TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT…
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2
Total complaints2
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Front end shimmies at 45 mph. Vehicle has been taken to dealer 10 times. Dealer has not been able to correct the problem. Manufacturer has been contacted.*ak *jb”
“Front end shimmies at 45 mph. Vehicle has been taken to dealer 10 times. Dealer has not been able to correct the problem. *ak consumer feels the dealer is ignoring the problem. *jb”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Kenworth T300 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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