1997 Kenworth W900 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other W900 years
- Not enough data 8th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1997 Kenworth W900. That ranks 8th out of 31 W900 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is tires (1 complaints, 100%). There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 1owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Kenworth W900 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 1 | 100% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
1997 Kenworth W900 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor fg941 steer axles. The gross axle weight rating (gawr) was determined incorrectly and over-stated on the vehicle certification label. With the incorrect gawr listed, these labels do not meet the certification requirements of part 567, "requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles." vehicles will be remedied either by assigning the proper weight rating or, if possible, by changing the necessary components to meet the currently assigned weight rating.
Risk: These vehicles would not be in compliance with federal regulations.
Fix: Vehicles will be remedied either by assigning the proper weight rating or, if possible, by changing the necessary components to meet the currently assigned weight rating. Owner notification began june 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5000.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Problem: Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with 54" rear axle spacing configuration of the airglide 200 suspension with the service application identified as logger, dump truck, or tanker. The rear suspension is regularly subjected to extreme articulation, resulting in flexing of the joint.
Risk: Failure of the lower sway arm attaching bolts could result in loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the lower sway arm brackets. Owner notification began march 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5000.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar 3406e engines. The routing of the electrical and fuel lines can cause chaffing of the wiring harness on the fuel line.
Risk: This chaffing can cause fuel leakage and a potential for a fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, adjust, and repair, if necessary, the fuel line and electrical harness.
Suspension:front:hub
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with design level 1, rockwell ff980 series front axle. The front axle hub flange can develop cracks due to high stress levels.
Risk: Cracks in a hub flange can result in a wheel separation.
Fix: Dealers will remove and replace the front hubs with an improved design level 2 hub.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with kenworth airglide 200 rear suspension. Due to materials used in the sway bar arms and studs as well as the stud plating material, stress corrosion cracking and bending fatigue can occur in the rear suspension sway bar arms and studs causing the stud to fail prematurely.
Risk: This could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the arm assembly manufactured from a different material. New studs will be installed with different threads and different finish.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
During the last two years i have had all 4 tires on this trailer blow out. Only the original tires blew out -- they did not go flat they blew apart -- goodyear st225/75r15 load range c, original tires that came with the 5th wheel trailer -- the trailer was not over the gross vehicle weight rating…
Other Kenworth W900 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 W900 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 W900 | 1 | 2 |
| 2023 W900 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 W900 | 2 | 4 |
| 2021 W900 | 1 | 3 |
| 2020 W900 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019 W900 | 0 | 7 |
| 2018 W900 | 0 | 9 |
| 2017 W900 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016 W900 | 0 | 11 |
| 2015 W900 | 0 | 9 |
| 2014 W900 | 0 | 9 |
| 2013 W900 | 0 | 7 |
| 2012 W900 | 0 | 8 |
| 2011 W900 | 0 | 10 |
| 2010 W900 | 0 | 9 |
| 2009 W900 | 0 | 17 |
| 2008 W900 | 1 | 20 |
| 2007 W900 | 2 | 16 |
| 2006 W900 | 1 | 11 |
| 2005 W900 | 2 | 9 |
| 2004 W900 | 2 | 12 |
| 2003 W900 | 1 | 6 |
| 2002 W900 | 1 | 4 |
| 2001 W900 | 1 | 9 |
| 2000 W900 | 7 | 9 |
| 1999 W900 | 3 | 10 |
| 1998 W900 | 3 | 6 |
| 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| 1996 W900 | 0 | 6 |
| 1995 W900 | 1 | 2 |
See all Kenworth W900 problems by year, every Kenworth model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Kenworth models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Kenworth W900?
Owners most often report tires problems. The top one, tires, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Kenworth W900?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Kenworth W900 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other W900 model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.