The worst 2009 Kenworth C500 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 5
Service brakes, air: supply: reservoir/tank
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2009-2021 Kenworth C500, 2012-2021 Kenworth T440, 2009-2015 Kenworth T660, 2015-2024 Kenworth T680, 2009-2024 Kenworth T800, 2009-2020 Kenworth T370, 2014-2023 Kenworth T880, 2011-2016 Kenworth T470, 2023 Kenworth T480, and 2009-2019 Kenworth W900 vehicles. The air tanks have an insufficient volume of air for the brake system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Insufficient air volume can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install the correct volume air tanks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 12, 2024. Additional owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2025. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 24KWD.
Recall number 24V145000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 kenworth c500, t2000, t600, and t660, as well as model year 2009-2011 peterbilt 387 and 388 trucks equipped with caterpillar c15 engine and manufactured from may 11, 2006, through september 17, 2010. Degradation of a combustion tube weld can cause radial heat impingement on the body which may burn through certain bodies used on c15 engines.
- Risk
- This could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Caterpillar is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Please see caterpillar's defect report 11e-006. Caterpillar will replace the single piece combustion tube with a thick wall combustion tube which will not allow the heat to break through. This service will be performed free of charge. Due to a parts supply issue, owners will be notified by the end of april 2011 about the safety defect, and will then be notified again once the free remedy is available, currently estimated to be around late july 2011. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1‑800‑447‑4986.
Recall number 11V203000 · Recall details
Steering: column
- What is wrong
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 trucks equipped with trw steering shafts. The circumferential weld around the steering shaft tube that welds the splined tube to the non-splined tube may be mislocated. Mislocation of the circumferential weld may allow the splined tube and non-splined tube to rotate relative to one another during a low speed, high torque turn, possibly resulting in a separation of the two tubes.
- Risk
- A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes would cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the steering shaft using a weld placement gauge provided by trw. Any steering shaft found to have been welded improperly will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall began on july 30, 2010. Owners may contact kenworth at 425‑828‑5440 and peterbilt at 940‑591‑4196.
Recall number 10V308000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: drum: chamber
- What is wrong
- Kenworth is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2011 c500 trucks manufactured from october 24, 2008 through january 13, 2010. During maneuvers with certain combinations of wheel turn, articulation, and bump, the brake chamber can contact the rear hood support.
- Risk
- The contact can damage the brake chamber leading to a loss of braking function at the affected wheel end, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kenworth will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 8, 2010. Owners may contact kenworth at 1‑425‑828‑5440.
Recall number 10V212000 · Recall details
Parking brake: conventional: air
- What is wrong
- Paccar is recalling 1,043 my 2008-2009 kenworth c500, t2000,t660, t800 and w900 trucks equipped with bendix mv-3 dash control valves. The molded valve body has an incorrect core pin in the injection mold causing the valve body to be oversized in the double check valve area. This condition can allow the rubber double check valve to become lodged in the body opening under certain circumstances.
- Risk
- If the double check valve becomes lodged, in the event of a primary reservoir failure, air pressure can leak past the lodged double check valve thereby depleting the secondary reservoir, causing reduced ability for modulating the service emergency brakes. In such an event, the operator should observe an air leak, indications of low air pressure via the primary and secondary air gauges, and audible and visual low air pressure warning alarms. A vehicle crash is possible if these warnings are not heeded.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the bendix mv-3 dash control valves free of charge. The recall began on april 14, 2008. Owners may contact kenworth at 1‑425‑828‑4196.
Recall number 08V128000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Kenworth C500 12
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Due to supplier constraints, an authorized aftermarket surge tank has been made available.
- Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes
- Certain C500/T440/T470/T660/T680/T800/T880/W900 chassis may have air tank reservoirs that do not meet air...
- Information Only – Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate
- Information Only:
- Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment...
- Information Only – Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed,...
- Information Only:
- Kenworth: information regarding rear nox sensor repairs should include system updates for chassis...
- Kenworth: bulletin refers to the dual exhaust rear nox sensor moisture protection campaign
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Questions about the 2009 Kenworth C500
Is the 2009 Kenworth C500 reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2009 Kenworth C500.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Kenworth C500?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2009 Kenworth C500 have?
5 recalls, covering service brakes, air, engine and engine cooling and steering.
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