How many recalls does the 2021 Kenworth T280 have?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2021 Kenworth T280 as of October 16, 2026. Each includes the defect description, safety consequence, and the remedy Kenworth will perform. New recalls can be issued at any time; this page is refreshed from NHTSA daily.

How do I tell if my 2021 Kenworth T280 is affected by a recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN — stamped at the base of the windshield on the driver side and on the door jamb sticker — at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall; the list on this page covers every campaign for the 2021 Kenworth T280.

Are recall repairs on a 2021 Kenworth T280 free?

Usually. Federal law requires Kenworth to remedy recalls on the 2021 T280 free of charge at an authorized Kenworth dealer, regardless of how many owners the vehicle has had or how many miles are on the odometer — unless it was first sold more than 15 years before the recall was issued (5 years for tires).

Does a recall on the 2021 Kenworth T280 affect resale value?

An open recall can reduce resale value; a recall that has been repaired (documented in the vehicle history report) generally does not. Before you buy or sell a used 2021 Kenworth T280, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm every recall has been remedied.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Kenworth T280?

No owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Kenworth T280.

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2021 Kenworth T280 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2021 Kenworth T280 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 0 owner complaints on file as of October 16, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kenworth dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2021 Kenworth T280. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

NHTSA #24V190000

Reported March 20, 2024 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 70,509 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

NHTSA #23V661000

Reported September 29, 2023 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 254 vehicles

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

A delay in the trailer brake release can create instability to the trailer and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

NHTSA #23V087000

Reported February 15, 2023 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 8,008 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Service brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA #22V425000

Reported June 15, 2022 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 402 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A miscalibrated actuator may cause the transmission to shift into an unexpected gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

NHTSA #21V00N000

Reported December 29, 2021 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 1,107 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

NHTSA #21V601000

Reported August 3, 2021 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 688 vehicles

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 537, 548 and Kenworth T270, T280, T370, T380, T440, T470, and T480 vehicles equipped with Cummins L9 diesel engines. A fuel leak may occur from the fuel hose between the fuel pump and the remote fuel filter head.

Safety consequence

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Cummins will replace the fuel hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in October 2021. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) and 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21PBG and 21KWF.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Other Kenworth T280 model years

Check your 2021 Kenworth T280 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kenworth T280 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Kenworth VIN