KENWORTH W900 · model year

2000 KENWORTH W900

12 NHTSA complaints, and 9 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000KENWORTHW900 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 W900 is suspension with 2 filings, followed by steering:linkages:tie rod assembly (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 9 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2000 W900. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION2
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1

Recalls (9)

01V14000628/08/2001

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.

02V06100127/02/2002

SUSPENSION:REAR

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REPLACEMENT DANA SPICER TANDEM DRIVE AXLE MODELS DS463 AND DS521, INSTALLED ON VEHICLES FROM MAY 1, 2001 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2002, AN UNDERSIZED ATTACHMENT WELD MAY FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING.

01V14200024/04/2001

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR FG941 STEER AXLES. THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) WAS DETERMINED INCORRECTLY AND OVER-STATED ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. WITH THE INCORRECT GAWR LISTED, THESE LABELS DO NOT MEET THE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "

01V05100020/02/2001

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 54" REAR AXLE SPACING CONFIGURATION OF THE AIRGLIDE 200 SUSPENSION WITH THE SERVICE APPLICATION IDENTIFIED AS LOGGER, DUMP TRUCK, OR TANKER. THE REAR SUSPENSION IS REGULARLY SUBJECTED TO EXTREME ARTICULATION, RESULTING IN FLEXING OF THE JOINT.

01V16700117/05/2001

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CHALMERS 1000 SERIES AND 800 SERIES SUSPENSION KITS. THESE SUSPENSION KITS MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT PENETRATION OF THE WELD ATTACHING THE TORQUE ROD EYE TO THE TORQUE ROD TUBE.

02V03700315/07/2002

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN ARVINMERITOR AND DANA AXLES. PETERBILT WILL RECALL 1,434 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 1999, TO MAY 14, 2000, AND FROM JULY 22 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. KENWORTH WILL RECALL 859 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WI

01V02100005/02/2001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL FIREWALL-MOUNTED CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE MAIN CAB POWER AND BATTERY POWER LEADS WERE ATTACHED INCORRECTLY. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE MAIN CAB POWER BEING UNPROTECTED.

02V03300004/02/2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ON SOME HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ALCOA FUJIKURA LTD. (AFL) POWER DISTRIBUTION BOXES (PD BOX), THE PD BOXES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INSUFFICIENT TORQUE APPLIED TO THE NUT OF THE MAIN POWER FEED-THROUGH STUD.

03V12500001/04/2003

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Recent Complaints

20070716SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KENWORTH W900. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME RAIL FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM EACH TIME. THE FRAME RAIL CRACKED AND CUT THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 211,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

Mileage: 108,000

20030505ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS BIG RIG. HE STATES THAT HE CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE LIGHTS CUT OFF, THEN LATER ON THEY COME BACK ON. HE STATES THAT HE HAS HAD THIS TRUCK IN THE SHOP 60 PLUS TIMES, AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HE STATES HE HAS HAD THE MOTOR REBUILT TWICE, REPLACED THE HEADS, REPLACE GASKET ETC AT LEASE TWICE, AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.

20020924SUSPENSION:REAR

KENWORTH HAS A REPUTATION OF PUTTING A CUSTUMER OFF UNTILL WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THERE ARE MORE. HARD TO EXPLAIN IN SHORT WORDS. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF MAINT. FILES WITH DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF ALL PROBLEMS , NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCURATLY REPAIRED. I'V BEEN INTO VARIOUS SHOPS CONCERNING RR SUSPENSION, RIDE HEIGHT PRB. HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE. THIS EFFECTS EVERY ASSPECT OF DRIVEABILITY, AT FIRST WAS THOUGTH TO BE ALLIGNMENT BUT THEN STARTED TO NOTICE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN CONTROL VALVES STARTED LEAKING DOWN, AFTER 15 OR SO TRIPS TO SHOP , I BEGAN TO LEARN ALL I COULD ABOUT IT. AND AFTER 50 OR SO TIMES ADJUSTING MYSELF HAVE FOUND NO REAL SOLLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW AND IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS CREAT A MECHANICAL FALURE NIGHTMARE BUT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO CERTAIN SAFTEY ISSUES BECAUSE TRK IS NOT VERY CONTROLABLE. AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE T

20020924UNKNOWN OR OTHER

KENWORTH HAS A REPUTATION OF PUTTING A CUSTUMER OFF UNTILL WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THERE ARE MORE. HARD TO EXPLAIN IN SHORT WORDS. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF MAINT. FILES WITH DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF ALL PROBLEMS , NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCURATLY REPAIRED. I'V BEEN INTO VARIOUS SHOPS CONCERNING RR SUSPENSION, RIDE HEIGHT PRB. HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE. THIS EFFECTS EVERY ASSPECT OF DRIVEABILITY, AT FIRST WAS THOUGTH TO BE ALLIGNMENT BUT THEN STARTED TO NOTICE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN CONTROL VALVES STARTED LEAKING DOWN, AFTER 15 OR SO TRIPS TO SHOP , I BEGAN TO LEARN ALL I COULD ABOUT IT. AND AFTER 50 OR SO TIMES ADJUSTING MYSELF HAVE FOUND NO REAL SOLLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW AND IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS CREAT A MECHANICAL FALURE NIGHTMARE BUT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO CERTAIN SAFTEY ISSUES BECAUSE TRK IS NOT VERY CONTROLABLE. AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE T

20020924STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

KENWORTH HAS A REPUTATION OF PUTTING A CUSTUMER OFF UNTILL WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THERE ARE MORE. HARD TO EXPLAIN IN SHORT WORDS. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF MAINT. FILES WITH DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF ALL PROBLEMS , NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCURATLY REPAIRED. I'V BEEN INTO VARIOUS SHOPS CONCERNING RR SUSPENSION, RIDE HEIGHT PRB. HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE. THIS EFFECTS EVERY ASSPECT OF DRIVEABILITY, AT FIRST WAS THOUGTH TO BE ALLIGNMENT BUT THEN STARTED TO NOTICE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN CONTROL VALVES STARTED LEAKING DOWN, AFTER 15 OR SO TRIPS TO SHOP , I BEGAN TO LEARN ALL I COULD ABOUT IT. AND AFTER 50 OR SO TIMES ADJUSTING MYSELF HAVE FOUND NO REAL SOLLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW AND IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS CREAT A MECHANICAL FALURE NIGHTMARE BUT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO CERTAIN SAFTEY ISSUES BECAUSE TRK IS NOT VERY CONTROLABLE. AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE T

20020924SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

KENWORTH HAS A REPUTATION OF PUTTING A CUSTUMER OFF UNTILL WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THERE ARE MORE. HARD TO EXPLAIN IN SHORT WORDS. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF MAINT. FILES WITH DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF ALL PROBLEMS , NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCURATLY REPAIRED. I'V BEEN INTO VARIOUS SHOPS CONCERNING RR SUSPENSION, RIDE HEIGHT PRB. HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE. THIS EFFECTS EVERY ASSPECT OF DRIVEABILITY, AT FIRST WAS THOUGTH TO BE ALLIGNMENT BUT THEN STARTED TO NOTICE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN CONTROL VALVES STARTED LEAKING DOWN, AFTER 15 OR SO TRIPS TO SHOP , I BEGAN TO LEARN ALL I COULD ABOUT IT. AND AFTER 50 OR SO TIMES ADJUSTING MYSELF HAVE FOUND NO REAL SOLLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW AND IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS CREAT A MECHANICAL FALURE NIGHTMARE BUT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO CERTAIN SAFTEY ISSUES BECAUSE TRK IS NOT VERY CONTROLABLE. AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE T

20020924POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

KENWORTH HAS A REPUTATION OF PUTTING A CUSTUMER OFF UNTILL WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THERE ARE MORE. HARD TO EXPLAIN IN SHORT WORDS. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF MAINT. FILES WITH DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF ALL PROBLEMS , NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCURATLY REPAIRED. I'V BEEN INTO VARIOUS SHOPS CONCERNING RR SUSPENSION, RIDE HEIGHT PRB. HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE. THIS EFFECTS EVERY ASSPECT OF DRIVEABILITY, AT FIRST WAS THOUGTH TO BE ALLIGNMENT BUT THEN STARTED TO NOTICE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN CONTROL VALVES STARTED LEAKING DOWN, AFTER 15 OR SO TRIPS TO SHOP , I BEGAN TO LEARN ALL I COULD ABOUT IT. AND AFTER 50 OR SO TIMES ADJUSTING MYSELF HAVE FOUND NO REAL SOLLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW AND IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS CREAT A MECHANICAL FALURE NIGHTMARE BUT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO CERTAIN SAFTEY ISSUES BECAUSE TRK IS NOT VERY CONTROLABLE. AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE T

20020924STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

KENWORTH HAS A REPUTATION OF PUTTING A CUSTUMER OFF UNTILL WARRANTY IS OUT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHERE TO BE ADDRESSED. AND THERE ARE MORE. HARD TO EXPLAIN IN SHORT WORDS. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF MAINT. FILES WITH DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF ALL PROBLEMS , NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCURATLY REPAIRED. I'V BEEN INTO VARIOUS SHOPS CONCERNING RR SUSPENSION, RIDE HEIGHT PRB. HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE. THIS EFFECTS EVERY ASSPECT OF DRIVEABILITY, AT FIRST WAS THOUGTH TO BE ALLIGNMENT BUT THEN STARTED TO NOTICE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN CONTROL VALVES STARTED LEAKING DOWN, AFTER 15 OR SO TRIPS TO SHOP , I BEGAN TO LEARN ALL I COULD ABOUT IT. AND AFTER 50 OR SO TIMES ADJUSTING MYSELF HAVE FOUND NO REAL SOLLUTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW AND IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS CREAT A MECHANICAL FALURE NIGHTMARE BUT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO CERTAIN SAFTEY ISSUES BECAUSE TRK IS NOT VERY CONTROLABLE. AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE T

20020913ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE WOULD STALLS WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

20020614STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED OF 20 MPH OR LESS RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE, AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

20010409SUSPENSION

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V051000. SHE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS RECALL, AND DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THEY HAD NO INFORMATION REGARDING RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

20000911SUSPENSION

THE TRUCK HAS A VIBRATION, WHICH SHAKES BOLTS LOOSE AND THE SLEEPER DOORS LEAKS. *ET

Compare 2000KENWORTHW900 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 KENWORTH W900 have?
The 2000 KENWORTH W900 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2000 KENWORTH W900?
Yes, the 2000 KENWORTH W900 has 9 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 KENWORTH W900?
The most-complained component for the 2000 KENWORTH W900 is SUSPENSION with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 2000 KENWORTH W900 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.