Seat belt cable becomes frayed and breaks. Will break completely if in an accident. With nothing holding driver in driver will become injured and possibly death. Replace with a better constructed device
The worst 2016 Kenworth T680 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes2
- Electrical1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Visibility1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes2
- Electrical1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Visibility1
Recalls 16
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
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles. The methane detection system will not function if the system loses power.
- Risk
- The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220, and Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWH and 21PBN.
Recall number 21V00N000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: antilock
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Kenworth T680 trucks equipped with a 2.1m Cab and WABCO 6S/6M ABS brake system with drum brakes. The brake systems were manufactured with a standard rear-brake ABS modulator valve instead of a quick release valve, which may exceed the intended service-brake release timing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- Longer than expected service-brake release timing may lengthen vehicle stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the standard rear-brake, ABS modulator valve with a quick release valve, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20KWD.
Recall number 20V593000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
- Risk
- If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
Recall number 20V199000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, greater than 30 feet long and equipped with side extender mounted intermediate marker lamp/turn signals that do not include a reflex reflector. Since both intermediate side marker lamps and reflex reflectors are required, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Missing reflex reflectors can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will install reflex reflective tape, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑918‑259‑3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWF, and 18PBC.
Recall number 18V816000 · Recall details
Electronic stability control (ESC)
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks and 2015-2018 Kenworth T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
- Risk
- If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on July 30, 2018. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1‑918‑259‑3258 or Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000.
Recall number 18V368000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016 Peterbilt 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 389, 389G, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and Kenworth K170, T170, T270, T370, T440, T470,T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks equipped with certain Spicer D or E series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.
- Risk
- If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000 or Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is P817-C.
Recall number 17V593000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Peterbilt 567 and 579 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks equipped with optional spotlights. The spotlight circuit may not be adequately protected in the event of a short.
- Risk
- A short in the spotlight circuitry may increase the risk of a fire at the cab fuse block.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will change the polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit to a standard fuse, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 17KWC and 717-B.
Recall number 17V471000 · Recall details
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Kenworth K370, T680, T880 and 2017-2018 Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks. The plastic fuel tee fittings on these trucks may leak fuel.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Kenworth and Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect fuel tees, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000 and Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 17KWA and 217-A.
Recall number 17V103000 · Recall details
Power train: manual transmission
- What is wrong
- Paccar (Paccar Incorporated) is recalling certain 2016 Kenworth T680, T800, and T880 trucks manufactured January 5, 2015, to January 7, 2015 and 2016 Peterbilt 367, 384, 567, and 579 trucks manufactured January 2, 2015, to January 9, 2015 and equipped with Eaton Fuller FR 10-speed manual transmissions. In the affected vehicles, when the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to neutral, the reverse gear may stay engaged. When the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to a forward gear position, the transmission may mechanically lock because both the reverse gear and forward gear are simultaneously engaged.
- Risk
- Even though the transmission has been shifted out of reverse into neutral, the vehicle may unexpectedly move backwards, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Paccar will notify the owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the affected transmissions if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. Paccar's numbers for this recall are 15KWM (Kenworth) and 1015N (Peterbilt).
Recall number 15V639000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: module
- What is wrong
- Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 12, 2015, and 2016 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured August 4, 2015, to August 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
- Risk
- An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. Paccar's numbers for this recall are 15KWM (Kenworth) and 915-L (Peterbilt).
Recall number 15V597000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T440, T470, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks manufactured February 16, 2015, to March 9, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an SR-7 spring brake valve assembly that may have had the primary and secondary service brake applications installed in reverse. In the event of a failure in the primary or secondary circuit, the redundant circuit would not provide adequate service brake functionality. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."
- Risk
- A loss of braking ability would increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kenworth will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and correct the air line installations as required, free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 15KWK.
Recall number 15V457000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Kenworth T440, T470, T660, T680, and T880 trucks manufactured January 14, 2010, to May 22, 2015, and equipped with HID Headlamps and the option for Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). The DRLs are required to deactivate when the hazard warning lights are activated, however, the DRLs on these vehicles override the hazard flashing functionality after the brake pedal is pushed for more than two seconds. Normal hazard flashing functionality returns once the service brake is released. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- If the hazard warning lamps are overridden by the DRL, oncoming vehicles may fail to be warned, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kenworth will notify owners, and dealers will update the cab controller software, free of charge. The recall began on September 167, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000. Kenworth's number for this recall is 15KWL.
Recall number 15V458000 · Recall details
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks manufactured February 1, 2015, to April 20, 2015. During assembly, the affected vehicles did not undergo the rear wheel mounting torque verification process, and thus the rear wheels may be loose.
- Risk
- If the rear wheel lug nuts are undertorqued, the wheels may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kenworth will notify owners, and dealers will verify that the rear wheel lug nuts are correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000. Kenworth's number for this recall is 15KWG.
Recall number 15V272000 · Recall details
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
- Risk
- If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 15KWE and 515-F.
Recall number 15V270000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks manufactured November 17, 2014, to January 5, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with Meritor MT-40-14X rear drive axles that may circulate an inadequate amount of lubricant to the wheel end hub assembly.
- Risk
- Without adequate lubrication to the wheel end hub assembly, the bearings may fail prematurely, increasing the risk of a wheel-end fire or crash.
- Remedy
- Kenworth will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective rear drive axle and inspect the wheel ends for damage, replacing them, as needed, free of charge. The recall began May 29, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 15KWB.
Recall number 15V196000 · Recall details
See all 16 recalls for the 2016 Kenworth T680
Defect investigations
Haldex Brake Chamber Failures
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE21018) based on eleven Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ). These VOQs included seven wheel-end fires on various Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.Several of the VOQs were submitted by a maintenance facility stating that the fires were due to power spring fractures within brake chambers manufactured by Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems (Haldex). According to the reports, the fractured spring punctured the brake chamber diaphragm, resulting in a partial loss of compressed air to the park brakes, causing the brakes to drag and overheat. ODI sent an information request letter to Haldex on August 3, 2021. On October 17, 2021, Haldex submitted a complete response. In this investigation, ODI analyzed thousands of warranty claims as well as fleet reports of brake chamber replacements. ODI gathered information from multiple vehicle manufacturers and reviewed legal testimony alleging defects and laboratory reports that raised concerns about spring failures initiated by corrosion. ODI found that spring failures were often detectable as soon as they occurred. In the subject incidents, after detecting the failures, some operators continued driving to a maintenance facility rather than stopping and waiting for a mobile technician to address the issue, increasing the risk of fire. While over twenty entities purchased the subject component from Haldex, the VOQs that ODI received involved only PACCAR vehicles. Haldex completed replacement campaigns for several fleets operating PACCAR vehicles, reducing the risk of further failures. Brake chambers have a limited service life. Industry guidance generally recommends replacement every two to four years depending on operating conditions, with some manufacturers and fleets recommending even shorter intervals. Vehicles operating in salt-belt states—where the majority of VOQs originated—require more frequent replacement than vehicles in less corrosive environments. Haldex’s standard warranty is four years and unlimited mileage. ODI determined that the average time in service for warranty claims was 4.9 years and 260,000 miles. Currently, all of the chambers subject to this investigation are between five and ten years old. Given the absence of recent failures and because the subject components are now older than their expected service life, ODI is closing this investigation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE21018
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Kenworth T680 65
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The new 2.1m day cab lift tools, a Level 3 mandatory tool, are now available to order.
- Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes
- The campaign expiration date has been changed to 03/01/2027.
- Troubleshooting procedures for 2.1m cab power windows are now available.
- CARB Chassis Update
- Certain C500/T440/T470/T660/T680/T800/T880/W900 chassis may have air tank reservoirs that do not meet air...
- E304: PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 EMY2016 NOx and N2O Exceedance Emissions Recall Certain vehicles with PACCAR...
- Certain chassis with Engine Model Year 2016-2021 PACCAR MX-11/MX-13, or EPA13 and EPA21 Cummins...
- E279: paccar MX-13/MX-11
- Certain Model Year 2021-2024 chassis with PACCAR MX engines and optional fuel filter restriction virtual...
What 2016 Kenworth T680 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driver driving down road I-35 truck developed massive air leak and brakes applied could not relase brakes along side of interstate service call found haldex brake chamber failed replaced brake chamber
Have someone remotely hacking into ECM board turning off things on trucks had freightliner years back they kept remotely shutting off opt idle an jake brake had international in 2014 they threw on trailer brakes trying to wreck truck straightened out then they did again in snow storm? On I-80 in iowa *bf
There are numerous service bulletins on quantum's website, www.qtww.com , under products and service bulletins that say many different parts of their fuel systems will fail. It also states that their bracket system holding the tanks in place will allow the high pressure tanks to move laterally that could cause a rupture in the fuel lines or the tank itself. I have contacted them to have the parts replaced and they are refusing to change them or tell me how I can make my systems safe for my employees to operate. I have a huge concern for the safety of my employees while operating these systems until the parts that will possibly fail have been replaced. In addition they are not following the nfpa 52 guidelines for the location of the prd vents which in the event of a fire and the current location of the vents would discharge fuel directly into the flames. They currently are still not following the guidelines as of today. As I'm sure you can understand my concerns and would like to have these issues resolved for myself and anyone else that has purchased these fuel systems from this manufacturer. I have attached a few of the bulletins from their website that are issues with my systems to show that they are aware of the issues and if you like I can send you the email conversations between myself and quantum to show that they are not doing anything to rectify or fix the issues. Thank you in advance for anything you can do to assist us in resolving these issues and make our systems safe for our employees to operate.
The defrost doors in the t680 is weak and breaks often leaving the driver without any defrost causing his visibility to decrease in an unsafe manner. Kenworth has been unwilling to address this issue and repair it. When I contacted our district service manager he knew the part number of the replacement door assembly from memory and stated in an email back to me that kenworth has identified the issue and is working to fix it on future models. Labor to repair this is over $3000 and the part is another $886. We have 12 of these vehicles, so far 5 of the 12 have broken leaving more than one driver struggling to get off the highway before his window fogged up so bad he became unsafe to drive. The vehicles are in motion when these defrost doors break and it creates a very unsafe situation as trucks can not just pull over any spot they choose on the highways and wait for a window to thaw out. There are 2 issues that happen on these doors. 1 the door is overflexed by the electric actuator motor and snaps the drive cogs off of the door. 2 the doors either shrink or are too small to begin with and the drive cog does not make full contact with the actuator motor causing the teeth to strip out as in the photos attached. The drive cog should be extruded from the housing but as you can see are shrunk inside the housing.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kenworth t680. While driving 65 MPH, the steel drum from the tire fractured in pieces when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steel plate drum was not welded correctly. The steel plate drum was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
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Questions about the 2016 Kenworth T680
Is the 2016 Kenworth T680 reliable?
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2016 Kenworth T680, fewer than a typical T680 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Kenworth T680?
Brakes, with 2 complaints. Next is electrical (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Kenworth T680 have?
16 recalls, covering service brakes, air, electrical system and exterior lighting.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Kenworth T680 brakes?
Yes, 4 recalls: 24V145000, 20V593000, 20V199000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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