2023 Kenworth T280 problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 1 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kenworth T280, most often about transmission & drivetrain. There are 12 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Median mileage
- 1,200 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Transmission & Drivetrain is the most-reported problem area, named in 1 of 1 complaints (100%).
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 1,200 mi.
- The 2023 Kenworth T280 has 12 recalls on file.
2023 Kenworth T280 problems by category
- Transmission & Drivetrain1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power train | 1 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2023 Kenworth T280 recalls (12)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Peterbilt 535, 536, 537, 548, 2023-2024 Kenworth T280, T380, T480, and 2024 Kenworth T180 trucks. The throttle pedal assembly may contain an oversized magnet carrier, slowing the responsiveness or causing the pedal to stick.
Risk: A pedal that sticks increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the throttle pedal as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 and Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 25PBA and 25KWA.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
Risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.
Risk: A loss of communication between the gear shifter and the transmission may result in the vehicle becoming disabled after coming to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24PBE and 24KWE.
- VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Peterbilt 535, 536, 537, 548, and Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480 trucks. The glass lock ring on the cab mirror assembly may not be fully seated, allowing the mirror glass to detach.
Risk: A detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the mirror glass lock ring and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 23, 2024. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and/or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWA and 24PBA.
- SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Kenworth T280, T380, 2020-2024 Peterbilt 548, 536, 2024 Peterbilt 537, and 2020-2024 Kenworth T480 trucks. The timing of the trailer brake release may be delayed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
Risk: A delay in the trailer brake release can create instability to the trailer and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fittings and hoses in the affected valves, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23KWJ and 23PBJ.
- FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Kenworth T280, T380, T480, Peterbilt 536, 537, and 548 trucks. The remote Stage 2 fuel filter hoses may have been damaged during production, allowing the hoses to leak or disconnect.
Risk: A disconnected hose will result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Also, a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 4, 2023. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23KWF and 23PBF.
- POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
PACCAR Incorportated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Peterbilt 536, 537, 548, 2023-2024 Kenworth T280, T480, and 2024 Kenworth T380 vehicles. The adhesive thread-lock may not have been applied to the four flange mounted yoke bolt threads, allowing the driveline fasteners to loosen.
Risk: Loose fasteners may allow the driveline to separate from the truck, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will apply adhesive thread-lock and replace the fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 19, 2023. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23KWE and 23PBE.
- SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Kenworth T280, T380, T480, Peterbilt 536, 537, and 548 vehicles. When the brake pedal is fully applied and then released rapidly, the pedal plunger that connects the brake pedal to the brake valve may become disconnected, causing the service brakes to fail.
Risk: Service brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will add a pedal restraint bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-588 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23KWB and 23PBB.
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2023 Peterbilt 220, 389, 520, 536, 537, 348, 367, 567, 548, 579, and 2023 Kenworth T680, K270, T440, T880, W990, K370, T280, T380, T480, T800, and W900 vehicles. The engine control module (ECM) may experience an internal electrical short-circuit, causing the engine to stall.
Risk: An unexpected engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ECM, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 16, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 22KWG and 22PBG.
- STEERING
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Kenworth T170, T270, T280, T370, T380, T440, T470, T480, T680, T800, T880, W900, W990, C500, and 2022-2023 Peterbilt 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 536, 537, 548, 567, and 579 vehicles. The steering gears may have been assembled incorrectly, which can cause the gears to fracture.
Risk: A fractured steering gear can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering gear serial numbers, and replace the steering gears as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22PBE and 22KWE.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022 Kenworth T180 and 2023 Kenworth T280 and Peterbilt 535 vehicles. The ABS telltale was not enabled on certain vehicles, and will not illuminate even during an ABS malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."
Risk: An inoperational ABS system may not notify the driver of a malfunction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a complete software update to correct the parameter setting, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 22KWC and 22PBC.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PACCAR, Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022 Kenworth T180, 2021-2023 Kenworth T280, 2022-2023 Kenworth T380, 2022-2023 Peterbilt 536, and 537 vehicles. Internal components of the transmission actuator may slip, causing the actuator to become miscalibrated.
Risk: A miscalibrated actuator may cause the transmission to shift into an unexpected gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission actuator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 22KWD and 22PBD.
Recent 2023 Kenworth T280 complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Dec 19, 20221,200 miTNTransmission & Drivetrain
The contact owns a 2023 Kenworth T280. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the gears were not shifting properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact made a local dealer aware of the failure, and a mechanic was sent to his residence on two occasions for a service call, where it was diagnosed that the transmission actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired both times; however, the failure recurred, and the contact then stated that he…
NHTSA complaint #11498083 · source
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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology