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Campaign 11V157 Posted March 7, 2011 280 units

2011-2012 Kenworth T/C/W Recall 11V157: Slack Adjuster

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 3, 2026

Recall 11V157 affects 280 2011-2012 Kenworth T170/T270/T370/T440/T470/T660/T800/C500/W900 trucks for slack adjuster housings that can fracture. Repair is free at any franchised Kenworth dealer.

Kenworth recall 11V157 covers 280 2011-2012 T270, T470, T440, T370, T170, T800, C500, W900, and T660 trucks because the slack adjuster housing can fracture and disable the affected wheel brake. That failure can increase stopping distance or pull the truck to one side during braking, and the Kenworth dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The slack adjuster on these 2011-2012 Kenworth trucks is a cast iron brake part in the air brake system. It takes the push from the brake chamber push rod and transfers that force to the brake cam tube, which helps apply the foundation brake at the wheel.

On the recalled trucks, the slack adjuster housing was cast with a flow notch in the handle portion. That notch removes material from the section that carries braking force. Under brake load, the weakened housing can fracture instead of holding its shape and passing force through the brake linkage.

There is no warning sign before failure. A driver can find out only after the housing has cracked or fractured, when that brake no longer applies force as designed.

Who's affected?

Spans 9 Kenworth truck models across the 2011-2012 model years, all tied to the same air brake slack adjuster component.

2011 Kenworth T270 brake system
2012 Kenworth T470 brake system
2011 Kenworth T440 brake system
2011 Kenworth T470 brake system
2012 Kenworth T370 brake system
Units affected280

The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.

What's the safety risk?

If the slack adjuster housing fractures, that wheel brake no longer works. Stopping distance increases, and a steer axle failure can pull the truck to one side during braking, increasing crash risk. Contact a Kenworth dealer for status and drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Kenworth dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Kenworth T270, T470, T440, T370, T170, T800, C500, W900, or T660 is included in this recall.
  2. Use the owner notice Kenworth mailed after March 30, 2011, and reference recall number 11V157 when you call.
  3. Contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the free brake slack-adjuster housing inspection and replacement that fixes the fracture risk in the braking-force linkage.
  4. Drive cautiously until the inspection is complete. Leave extra following distance and avoid hard braking when traffic allows.
  5. Bring any repair records if you already paid for related brake slack-adjuster work before the recall notice.

What happens at the repair

The NHTSA filing says the safety recall began on March 30, 2011. For an included Kenworth truck, the dealer repair is an inspection of the slack adjuster housing, the part that carries braking force from the brake chamber push rod to the brake cam tube. A Kenworth technician replaces the slack adjuster housing if the inspection shows the casting defect is present. Parts and labor are covered once the repair is available for your VIN.

Timeline

March 7, 2011 NHTSA published the recall
March 30, 2011 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 11V157?

Recall 11V157 covers 280 2011-2012 Kenworth T270, T470, T440, T370, T170, T800, C500, W900, and T660 trucks with cast iron slack adjuster housings that can fracture. Kenworth dealers will inspect the slack adjuster housing and replace it if needed for free.

What should I do if my 2011-2012 Kenworth T270, T470, T440, T370, T170, T800, C500, W900, or T660 is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 11V157. If it is, contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the slack adjuster inspection and needed replacement. Reference recall number 11V157 when you call. The repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Kenworth's recall remedy says dealers will inspect and replace the slack adjuster housing as necessary free of charge.

What is the safety risk?

A fractured slack adjuster housing can stop the affected wheel brake from working. That can increase stopping distance, and if the part is on the steer axle, the truck can pull to one side during braking, increasing crash risk. The dealer repair is free.

What if I bought my Kenworth truck used?

The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2011-2012 Kenworth truck is included, then contact a franchised Kenworth dealer and reference recall number 11V157.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V157000
Kenworth customer service425-828-5440
NHTSA recall #11V157
NHTSA recall # (full)11V157000

Source documents

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 →