The Used Car Index

2006 Kenworth C500 problems

NHTSA lists 1 complaints for the 2006 Kenworth C500, 0 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as KENWORTH C500.

At a glance

Complaints
1
With crash
0
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
5
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
30,995
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
9

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1100.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWIRING1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

5 recalls.

08V099000

Date: 2008-03-04. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.

Defect: 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: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V107000

Date: 2007-03-16. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V090000

Date: 2007-03-09. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.

Defect: 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: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

06V391000

Date: 2006-10-13. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V570000

Date: 2005-12-22. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: 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: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE08011

Opened: 2008-02-08. Closed: 2008-05-05.

TRAILER LIGHT PLUG FAILURE

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.

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Linked campaign numbers: 08V190000.

Manufacturer communications

9 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
EQUIPMENT3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY2
ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
VISIBILITY1

11037541

Date: 2026-09-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

"Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. Peterbilt: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."

10188550

Date: 2021-02-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, VISIBILITY.

Information Only A?A A Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.

10170199

Date: 2020-12-20. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

This SKU is a Climate Control Module. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect alignment pins and knobs. The alignment pins may be weak which cause them to break and knob material may be weak which could cause them to break. Breaking of the alignment pins or knob

10177021

Date: 2020-06-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.

10173205

Date: 2020-03-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.

10173212

Date: 2020-03-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Information Only A?A A Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to water intrusion and corrosion in some vehicles.

10168703

Date: 2019-11-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.

10030408

Date: 2008-12-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

KENWORTH SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. TOP TANK REPLACEMENT FOR C500 AND W900 WITH ISX; FIELD CAMPAIGN. EARLY DESIGN TOP TANKS ON 1430 SQUARE INCH RADIATORS FOR 2007 EMISSIONS COMPLIANT ENGINES CAN CREATE COOLANT PUMP AND/OR EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER FA

10027646

Date: 2008-10-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

KENWORTH TRUCKS: REDUCED ENGINE POWER FROM FUEL STARVATION. ANY MODEL KENWORTH EQUIPPED WITH THE 2007 EMISSIONS COMPLIANT ISX ENGINE AND OPTIONAL DAVCO 382 FUEL FILTER, BUILT PRIOR TO 8/11/08, *PE

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
C5001

Same model, other years

All model years | All Kenworth models

Other Kenworth models, 2006

Sources

Get this record as JSON

The free rate-limited demo needs no key.

curl "https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/demo/vehicle_risk?make=Kenworth&model=C500&year=2006"

Paid endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/vehicle_risk. MCP endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/mcp.