Reliability & cost of ownership
Kenworth C500 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Kenworth C500? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Kenworth C500 problems by model year
111 recall entries and 4 owner complaints on file across 30 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 C500 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2023 C500 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2022 C500 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2021 C500 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2020 C500 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2019 C500 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 C500 | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 C500 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 C500 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 C500 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 C500 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 C500 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2012 C500 | 3 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 C500 | 6 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 C500 | 4 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 C500 | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 C500 | 9 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 C500 | 6 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 C500 | 5 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2005 C500 | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 C500 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 C500 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2002 C500 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2001 C500 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 C500 | 7 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1999 C500 | 7 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 C500 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 C500 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 C500 | 4 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1995 C500 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Kenworth C500, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system1 complaint
- unknown or other1 complaint
- tires1 complaint
- wheels1 complaint