2021 Kenworth T480
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Kenworth › T480 › 2021
These records cover every 2021 Kenworth T480. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 2021 Kenworth T480. Newest first.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 11000766New tools are required to support PACCAR TX-8 / ZF transmissions. Part numbers E0l-1012 (Adapter, Jack TX-8), E0l-1014 (Front Seal Installer), and E0l-1015 (Rear Seal Installer) are currently available to order
- 10248329Safety Recall 23KWJ: T280/T380/T480 Delayed Trailer Brake Release T280/T380/T480 Delayed Trailer Brake Release. Safety Recall Certain T280/T380/T480 chassis built with 2.1m Medium Duty End of Frame Trailer Connections and Tractor Protection Valves may not meet the standard trailer brake release timing requirements by 0.5 seconds. A delay in the trailer brake release may create momentary instability to the trailer and increase the risk of a crash.
- 10244484Safety Recall Interim Notification Certain T280/T380/T480 chassis built with 2.1m Medium Duty End of Frame Trailer Connections may not meet the standard trailer brake release timing requirements by 0.5 seconds. A delay in the trailer brake release can create instability to the trailer and increase the risk of a crash. Parts and repair procedures are not yet available. This bulletin will be updated when a repair path is determined.
- 10238382Certain chassis with Engine Model Year 2016-2021 PACCAR MX-11/MX-13, or EPA13 and EPA21 Cummins ISX12/ISX15/X15 engines that had a previously failed DEF sensor and with DEF sensor software disabled due to industry DEF sensor shortages will now be able to receive a replacement DEF sensor, DEF tank heater coolant control valve, and re-enabled DEF diagnostic software. Please note that chassis equipped with PACCAR PX engines will be eligible for this repair at a future date when software is available.
- 10237150Parts and repair procedures are now available. Kenworth has determined that a safety defect exists in certain Model Year 2021-2024 T280, T380, and T480 chassis with air brakes. The brake pedal plunger which connects the brake pedal to the brake valve may dislodge after the pedal is fully depressed, and rapidly released (side slip foot brake release). If the plunger in the brake pedal assembly dislodges, the driver may be unable to apply the service brakes, which may increase the risk of a crash.
- 10225578Info Only - PACCAR is introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates for engine MY17 and newer chassis equipped with Cummins X15, X12, ISX12, ISX12N, L9N, PX-7, and PX-9 engines The technology will leverage the existing Remote Diagnostic cs hardware to deliver secure software updates remotely. This will reduce downtime and save on maintenance costs for eligible vehicles.
- 10217125chassis with a PACCAR TX-8 transmission without cruise control may have active transmission faults 86-2 and 595-2. These faults do not affect the operation of the transmission and can be ignored.
- 10206066Information Only: Due to differences between the PACCAR MX-11 or MX-13 2021A and 2021B engines, technicians must be able to identify which of these engines are in a chassis.
- 10201965Fix-As-Fail Due to undersupply issues, only a limited supply of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensors are available. As a temporary solution, after PACCAR confirms a DEF sensor is not available, a temporary software update will allow a vehicle to continue operation with a failed DEF sensor by disabling the DEF sensor diagnostics.
- 10200931Safety Recall - Model year 2021 Cummins PX9 fuel hose assemblies may leak from the hoses between the fuel pump and the remote filter head. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire. A repair is now available.
- 10200929A DPF regeneration two-position switch parameter is causing inhibited DPF regeneration. A parameter update, via Cummins Insite, restores proper DPF regeneration function.
Every Kenworth T480 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.