Kenworth T800 Reliability
49 NHTSA complaints (1994–2018). Complaint rate: 510.4 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 1997 Kenworth T800. The 2008–2009 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Kenworth T800 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 | 14.3% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 | 16.7% |
| TIRES | 3 | 33.3% |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 2 | 50.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 | 0.0% |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 | 0.0% |
| SUSPENSION | 2 | 0.0% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 2 | 0.0% |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 1994View→ |
| 1995GOOD | — | 2 | 2 | — | View 1995View→ |
| 1997AVOID | — | 8 | 0 | — | View 1997View→ |
| 1999 | — | 4 | 0 | — | View 1999View→ |
| 2000AVOID | — | 6 | 0 | — | View 2000View→ |
| 2004 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | View 2004View→ |
| 2005AVOID | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | View 2005View→ |
| 2006 | — | 4 | 0 | 3 | View 2006View→ |
| 2008GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2008View→ |
| 2009GOOD | — | 2 | 1 | — | View 2009View→ |
See also: Kenworth T800accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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