AI Damage2021 Kenworth T680: common problems
The maker issued 81 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 81
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Comparison
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Certain T680 Next Gen short hood chassis may be missing a bolt in the forward fairing
- This bulletin, the troubleshooting procedure, and the BMS Troubleshooting Checklist have been updated to…
This bulletin, the troubleshooting procedure, and the BMS Troubleshooting Checklist have been updated to show that the Autometer tool test results can be used in place of the Midtronics tool test results for fulfilling…
- Certain Kenworth EMY 2022 T680, T880 and W990 chassis may not contain an EAS operator’s manual in the…
Certain Kenworth EMY 2022 T680, T880 and W990 chassis may not contain an EAS operator’s manual in the vehicle’s glovebox literature packet.
- "Kenworth
Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. Peterbilt: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 10 chassis added to the…
- An exhaust manifold slip joint seal kit is now available for EPA 2017-2024 PACCAR MX-13 engines
- The verbiage in the Introduction section has been updated
- The procedure has been updated to include additional steps for verifying the software level on the vehicle…
The procedure has been updated to include additional steps for verifying the software level on the vehicle electronic control unit (VECU2) and digital display (DD). Steps have also been added to the PACCAR Common Rail…
- This optional software update is now available for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023 PACCAR MX-11 and…
This optional software update is now available for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023 PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines. This update provides customers with additional time to service their trucks before a DEF-related…
- Incorrect air filters may be inadvertently installed in certain chassis equipped with under-hood Donaldson…
- The Condition, Chassis Affected, Service Action, Warranty, and Procedure sections have been updated to…
The Condition, Chassis Affected, Service Action, Warranty, and Procedure sections have been updated to include the latest prognostics bulletin verbiage.
- "The software is not yet available
The bulletin will be updated when more information is available."
- "An optional software update will be available on 07/06/2026 for chassis equipped with EMY…
"An optional software update will be available on 07/06/2026 for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines. This update provides customers with additional time to service theirtrucks before a…
NHTSA lists 81 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kenworth T680?
There are no owner complaints in the NHTSA data for this year; the data comes from 81 manufacturer service bulletins.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Kenworth T680?
NHTSA lists 81 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Kenworth T680 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.