Recall 18V555 affects 11,429 2016-2019 Kenworth C500, T660, T800, and W900 trucks with missing engine-warning circuits. Repair is free at any franchised Kenworth dealer.
Kenworth is recalling 11,429 2016-2019 W900, T800, C500, and T660 trucks equipped with 1.9M ISX15 engines because the engine harness can lack check engine and stop engine light circuits. If those warnings are missing, a serious engine problem can go unnoticed and lead to unexpected engine failure, which raises crash risk; Kenworth dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The engine harness on 2016-2019 Kenworth W900, T800, C500, and T660 trucks routes electrical signals between the engine controls and the dashboard warning system. On trucks with the 1.9M ISX15 engine, the check engine light, stop engine light, and Stop Engine Alarm depend on that wiring to warn the driver when the engine control module detects a serious fault.
On affected trucks, the harness was built without the hardwired circuits for those warnings. Kenworth traced the problem to a design omission in the circuit omit table, which left the warning-light and alarm circuits out of the harness. The engine fault itself still exists, but the driver alert path is incomplete.
The warning sign is the absence of a warning. A serious engine problem can be active without the stop engine light turning on or the Stop Engine Alarm sounding, so the driver does not get the normal dashboard cue to stop and respond.
Who's affected?
The same wiring and diesel engine component areas appear across W900, T800, C500, and T660 trucks from 2016 to 2019.
| 2019 Kenworth W900 | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2019 Kenworth W900 | Diesel |
| 2019 Kenworth T800 | wiring |
| 2019 Kenworth T800 | Diesel |
| 2019 Kenworth C500 | wiring |
| 2019 Kenworth C500 | Diesel |
| 2018 Kenworth W900 | wiring |
| 2018 Kenworth W900 | Diesel |
| 2018 Kenworth C500 | wiring |
| 2018 Kenworth C500 | Diesel |
| 2018 Kenworth T800 | wiring |
| 2018 Kenworth T800 | Diesel |
| 2017 Kenworth W900 | wiring |
| 2017 Kenworth W900 | Diesel |
| 2017 Kenworth T800 | wiring |
| 2017 Kenworth T800 | Diesel |
| 2017 Kenworth C500 | wiring |
| 2017 Kenworth C500 | Diesel |
| 2016 Kenworth W900 | wiring |
| 2016 Kenworth W900 | Diesel |
| 2016 Kenworth T800 | wiring |
| 2016 Kenworth T800 | Diesel |
| 2016 Kenworth C500 | wiring |
| 2016 Kenworth C500 | Diesel |
| 2018 Kenworth T660 | wiring |
| 2018 Kenworth T660 | Diesel |
| 2019 Kenworth T660 | wiring |
| 2019 Kenworth T660 | Diesel |
| 2017 Kenworth T660 | wiring |
| 2017 Kenworth T660 | Diesel |
| 2016 Kenworth T660 | wiring |
| 2016 Kenworth T660 | Diesel |
| Units affected | 11,429 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific truck.
What's the safety risk?
A serious engine problem can go unnoticed if the SEL does not light and the Stop Engine Alarm does not sound. The engine can then fail unexpectedly, increasing crash risk. Treat engine-performance changes as a reason to pull over safely and call a Kenworth dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Kenworth dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2019 Kenworth W900, T800, C500, or T660 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the free ISX15 engine-harness inspection and overlay jumper harness repair that restores the CEL and SEL warning circuits.
- Reference recall number 18V555 and Kenworth recall 18KWE when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if Kenworth mailed one, along with service records for engine-harness or warning-light work.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and stop in a safe place if the engine runs abnormally or loses power.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kenworth technician inspects or tests the ISX15 engine harness, then installs an overlay jumper harness if the check engine light and stop engine light circuits are missing. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. If you already paid out of pocket for this harness repair before the recall work was performed, the manufacturer's general reimbursement plan covers documented repair costs. Keep invoices, payment records, and service notes together, and ask the Kenworth service desk how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 22, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 16, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| October 16, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 19, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 19, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V555?
Recall 18V555 covers 11,429 2016-2019 Kenworth W900, T800, C500, and T660 trucks equipped with 1.9M ISX15 engines. The engine harness can lack check engine light and stop engine light circuits, so the driver is not warned before a serious engine problem.
What should I do if my 2016-2019 Kenworth W900, T800, C500, or T660 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 18V555. If it is, contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the harness inspection or test. The dealer will install an overlay jumper harness for the missing CEL and SEL circuits if needed.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and Kenworth dealers will inspect or test the ISX15 engine harness and install the overlay jumper harness free of charge. Reference recall 18V555 or Kenworth recall number 18KWE when you call.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is loss of warning before a serious engine problem. If the driver is not warned, the engine can fail unexpectedly, increasing crash risk. The repair adds the missing check engine light and stop engine light circuits so the warning system works as intended.
What warning signs should I watch for?
The issue is that the warning lights can be missing from the engine harness circuit. Do not rely only on the check engine light or stop engine light for this recall. Confirm the VIN, then have a Kenworth dealer inspect or test the harness.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V555000 |
|---|---|
| Kenworth customer service | 1-918-259-3258 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V555 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V555000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →