Total Complaints
2 filings
KENWORTH W900 · model year
2004 KENWORTH W900
2 NHTSA complaints, and 12 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004KENWORTHW900 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 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 2004 W900 is electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator with 1 filings, followed by tires (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 12 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 2004 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recalls (12)
09V23900030/06/2009
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
KENWORTH IS RECALLING 3,423 MY 2004-2009 T2000, T800,T600, W900 AND T660 VEHICLES. INCREASED BRAKE EXCITATION IN A CERTAIN VEHICLE CONFIGURATION WHICH INCLUDES BENDIX DRUM BRAKES, WIDE BASE LOW PROFILE SINGLE TIRES, AND AN AG400 OR AG460 REAR SUSPENSION, DUE TO ITS UNIQUE BRAKE CLOCKING AND CAM TUB
05V18900028/04/2005
SUSPENSION
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE SUSPENSION HAS TRANSVERSE BEAM CASTINGS THAT MAY FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL LOADS. IF A CASTING BREAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON A ROADWAY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR PIECES OF THE CASTING TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND THE SUSPENSION'S TRANSVERSE BEAM MAY DROP
08V48500024/09/2008
SUSPENSION
PACCAR IS RECALLING 130 MY 2004-2009 T2000, T800, T600, W900 AND T660 KENWORTH TRUCKS BUILT WITH AN AG400 REAR SUSPENSION, LONG STROKE BRAKE CHAMBERS, AND WIDE BASE TIRES (SUPER SINGLES). THESE VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP AN INCREASE IN LATERAL AND VERTICAL AXLE MOVEMENT. THIS MOVEMENT MAY CAUSE PART OR
05V57000022/12/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
04V36000021/07/2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A COMBINATION OF CATERPILLAR C11/C13 ENGINES AND AN OPTIONAL LEECE NEVILLE BRUSHLESS ALTERNATOR, A CHAFFING POINT MAY EXIST BETWEEN A HEAT SHIELD ON THE ENGINE AND THE WIRING FOR THE ALTERNATOR.
07V10700016/03/2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
04V35600015/07/2004
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS.' THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS OMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE'S CERTIFICATION LABEL.
04V44900013/09/2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT WITH THE OPTIONAL DANA SPL DRIVELINE, THE U-JOINT FASTENERS AT THE OUTPUT YOKE OF THE TRANSMISSION WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
04V17400012/04/2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON FULLER ULTRASONIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." THE CAB TRANSMISSION HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY
04V58000010/12/2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE POWER FEED HARNESS P92-1993 TERMINALS WERE NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED.
05V08400004/03/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO HEATERS, THE BURNER TUBES ARE MADE OF MATERIAL THAT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.
04V53300002/11/2004
STRUCTURE
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, SOME OF THE HUCK BOLTS ON THE CAB MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED.
Recent Complaints
20110105FireTIRES
2004 KENWORTH W9, WAS ENTERING ONTO THE OHIO TURNPIKE WHEN ITS RIGHT REAR TRAILER TIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE *BF THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0690-91). *JB UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF
20040503FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THIS HAD HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS. MY DAD DRIVES A KENWORTH T2000 IT IS A BRAND NEW 2004. MY DAD WAS PARKING HIS TRUCK FOR THE NIGHT IN WACO, TX WHEN HE HAD SMELT SOMETHING BURNING. HE OPENED THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK AND THERE WAS A FIRE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE FIREWALL. THEY BELIEVE THE FIRE STARTED WITH A WIRE ON THE ALTERNATOR. OUR CONCERN IS THE KENWORTH T2000 DOES NOT HAVE A DOOR ON THE SLEEPER BIRTH. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL SEMI TRUCKS NEED ONE. IF MY PARENTS HAD BEEN SLEEPING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR THEM TO ESCAPE THE TRUCK IF THE FIRE HAD GOT BIG ENOUGH. I HAVE WROTE TO OTHER PEOPLE BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT IT WHICH SHOWS ME THAT NO ONE GIVES A [XXX] THING, BUT I BET IF THEY HAD DIED IN THAT TRUCK EVERYONE WOULD BE COMPLAINING THAT NO ONE HAD SAID A THING ABOUT IT. I AM BEGGING YOU SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE DOORS IN THE SLEEPER MANDATORY ON ALL SEMI TRUCKS WITH SLEEPER BIRTHS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S
Compare 2004KENWORTHW900 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 KENWORTH W900 have?▼
The 2004 KENWORTH W900 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 KENWORTH W900?▼
Yes, the 2004 KENWORTH W900 has 12 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, AIR. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 KENWORTH W900?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 KENWORTH W900 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES.
Is the 2004 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.