AI Damage2004 Kenworth T800: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Kenworth T800 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There was a sudden surge in the engine for approx. 2-3 seconds after I was rear ended and there were no prior problems.
The contact noticed flames emitting from the instrument panel upon entering the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. The cause of failure was not determined. There was a nhtsa recall related to the defect, campaign 04v580000(electrical system:wiring).
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the T800 has 1 complaints (28 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Kenworth T800?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (67%), unintended acceleration (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Kenworth T800?
NHTSA lists 0 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 2004 Kenworth T800 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 2004 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 2026-11-05.