Recall 10V452 affects 3,040 2011 Kenworth T470, T440, T800, C500, W900, and T660 trucks for exterior-light power loss. Repair is free at a Kenworth dealer.
Kenworth is recalling 3,040 2011 T470, T440, T800, C500, W900, and T660 trucks because a chassis load center harness spade terminal connection can come unseated, cutting power to part of the exterior lighting. Reduced exterior lighting makes the vehicle harder for other drivers to see and increases crash risk; the Kenworth dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The exterior lighting on the 2011 Kenworth T470, T440, T800, C500, W900, and T660 depends on power routed through the chassis load center. That load center is the truck's electrical distribution point, and spade terminals are flat plug-in connectors that carry power from the harness to lighting circuits.
On affected trucks, one of the four harness spade terminal connections to the chassis load center is not held securely enough. If that connector backs out completely, power stops reaching a portion of the exterior lighting. The fault is electrical, not a bulb issue, so replacing a lamp will not fix the connection.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first thing an owner or driver notices is a section of exterior lighting that stops working, or another person telling them those lights are out.
Who's affected?
Covers 6 Kenworth truck models from the 2011 model year, all tied to exterior lighting.
| 2011 Kenworth T470 | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2011 Kenworth T440 | Exterior lighting |
| 2011 Kenworth T800 | Exterior lighting |
| 2011 Kenworth C500 | Exterior lighting |
| 2011 Kenworth W900 | Exterior lighting |
| 2011 Kenworth T660 | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 3,040 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Power loss in the vehicle's exterior lighting can make the truck harder for other drivers to see, increasing the risk of a crash with the vehicle. If the lights fail or behave abnormally, reduce speed, move out of traffic when safe, and arrange dealer service. Repair will be free at any franchised Kenworth dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011 Kenworth T470, T440, T800, C500, W900, or T660 is included in this recall.
- Review the owner letter Kenworth mailed on October 29, 2010, if you have it.
- Contact a franchised Kenworth dealer and ask about the free harness connector reseating that restores exterior lighting power.
- Reference recall number 10V452 when you call the dealer.
- Use extra caution around dawn, dusk, and night driving until the exterior lighting repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kenworth technician inspects the chassis load center harness connections, then reseats the female connectors on the male spade terminals so the exterior lighting circuit has a secure connection. The remedy description states that this service is performed free of charge and that the safety recall began on October 29, 2010. Because the remedy status in this record is not marked available, do not assume scheduling is open from this field alone. The dealer repair will be free once available.
Timeline
| September 29, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 29, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V452?
Recall 10V452 covers 3,040 2011 Kenworth T470, T440, T800, C500, W900, and T660 trucks with a chassis load center harness connection that can come unseated and cut power to part of the exterior lighting. Kenworth dealers inspect and reseat the connector for free.
What should I do if my 2011 Kenworth T470, T440, T800, C500, W900, or T660 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 10V452. If it is, contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the harness inspection and connector reseating. Reference recall number 10V452 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Kenworth's remedy says dealers will perform this service free of charge. The dealer will inspect the chassis load center harness and reseat the female connectors on the male spade terminals.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced visibility to other drivers. If the harness connection comes completely unseated, part of the truck's exterior lighting can lose power. That lighting loss increases crash risk, and the repair path is a free dealer inspection and connector reseating.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V452000 |
|---|---|
| Kenworth customer service | 1-425-828-5440 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V452 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V452000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →