Kenworth · vehicle model

Kenworth T800

49 NHTSA complaints and 186 safety recalls across model years 1994–2018.

Complaints
49
Recalls
186
Model years
20

The verdict

The Kenworth T800 pairs above-average complaint volume with 186 recalls (heavily recalled).

41st pctile
complaint volume, US models
186
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Kenworth T800 vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

49 Around the middle lower than 40% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The KenworthT800 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 49 consumer safety complaints and 186 recall campaigns across 20 model years (1994–2018). That averages roughly 2 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 3 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20181
20161
20121
20111
20101
20092
20082
20071
20064
20056
20043
20031
20011
20006
19994
19981
19978
19961
19952
19942

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

2
’00
8
’01
3
’02
2
’04
5
’05
1
’07
1
’08
1
’09
13
’10
3
’11
2
’12
1
’14
2
’15
1
’16
1
’18
1
’19
1
’21
1
’25

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare KenworthT800 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Kenworth T800?
The Kenworth T800 has received 49 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1994 to 2018, with 186 recalls. That averages about 2 complaints per model year.
What years of Kenworth T800 are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the Kenworth T800 from 1994 to 2018 (20 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the Kenworth T800 have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many Kenworth T800 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common Kenworth T800 complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the Kenworth T800 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my Kenworth T800 has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Kenworth T800 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.