2025 Kenworth and Peterbilt Trucks Steering Linkage Defect
PACCAR is recalling 2025 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks due to improperly heat-treated ball studs in steering assemblies that may break, causing loss of steering control.
NHTSA safety advisory
Do not drive this vehicle
NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.
This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: This is a structural vehicle defect in the steering system that can cause complete loss of steering control. Although no injuries have been reported, the critical safety consequence of steering failure in commercial trucks justifies a Severe rating.
Plain-English summary
PACCAR Incorporated is recalling 2025 Kenworth and Peterbilt commercial trucks due to a steering assembly defect. The tie rod and drag link assemblies in these vehicles may contain ball studs that were improperly heat-treated during manufacturing, affecting approximately 7,410 units.
A broken ball stud can cause complete loss of steering control, significantly increasing the risk of crashes. PACCAR identified this defect and initiated the recall as a precautionary measure.
Owners were notified by mail on August 6, 2024. Owners should not drive their vehicles until repairs are completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the affected tie rod and drag link assemblies free of charge. For assistance, owners can contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5888, Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4220, or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- KENWORTH, PETERBILT T880, T480, T380, T280
- Brand
- KENWORTH
- Manufacturer
- PACCAR Incorporated
- Category
- Vehicle — Steering System
- Affected units
- 7,410
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (18)
- T880
- T480
- T380
- T280
- W990
- L770
- T680
- W900
- 579
- K370
- K270
- 520
- 536
- 537
- 548
- 567
- 589
- 220
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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