The worst 2018 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
Power train: clutch assembly
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and 2018-2019 Kenworth C500, T270, T370, T440, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks equipped with automated manual transmissions. An internal component in the clutch assembly may fail, possibly resulting in unintended vehicle movement.
- Risk
- Unintended movement of a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 18PBE and 18KWH.
Recall number 18V931000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Kenworth C500, T600, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks, as well as Peterbilt 367, 386, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, equipped with Cummins ISX15 or X15 diesel engines. In certain driving conditions, such as on a long down-hill grade, the fuel line may burst if the fuel pump cooling circuit screen becomes restricted.
- Risk
- If the fuel line bursts, fuel may leak onto the road resulting in a roadway hazard for other motorists. The engine may also stall without warning, resulting in the vehicle's inability to restart, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Cummins will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect fuel pump cooling circuit screen, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18E081.
Recall number 18V657000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Kenworth C500, T660, T800, and W900 vehicles, equipped with 1.9M ISX15 engines. The engine harnesses may have been manufactured without check engine light (CEL) and stop engine light (SEL) circuits, preventing the driver from being warned of a serious engine problem.
- Risk
- If the driver is not warned of a serious engine problem, the engine may unexpectedly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect or test the ISX15 engine harness, and install an overlay jumper harness to supply the missing CEL and SEL circuits, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑918‑259‑3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWE.
Recall number 18V555000 · Recall details
Fuel system, diesel
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, and 2018 Kenworth C500, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks equipped with Cummins ISX 15L engines. These engines have a fuel pump whose drive gear could possibly slip on its drive shaft, causing a fuel pump function loss, resulting in an engine stall.
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Cummins will notify the vehicle purchaser, and Cummins dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2017. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1‑800‑286‑6467 or PACCAR customer service at 1‑425‑468‑7400. PACCAR's number for this recall is C1909.
Recall number 17V443000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Kenworth C500 25
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Replaced obsolete SRT codes with updated SRT codes.
- 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
- The attached procedures document has been updated with more detail and explanations
- Procedure pictures updated for clarity
- Safety recall
- Certain C500/T440/T470/T660/T680/T800/T880/W900 chassis may have air tank reservoirs that do not meet air...
- Safety Recall Repair parts and procedures are now available
- Safety Recall Interim Notification On certain Kenworth model year 2018 through 2024 C500/T660/T800/W900...
- Certain chassis with Engine Model Year 2016-2021 PACCAR MX-11/MX-13, or EPA13 and EPA21 Cummins...
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Questions about the 2018 Kenworth C500
Is the 2018 Kenworth C500 reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2018 Kenworth C500.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Kenworth C500?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2018 Kenworth C500 have?
5 recalls, covering service brakes, air, power train and engine and engine cooling.
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