Recall 18V870 covers 6,857 2018 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with glued seat belt buckle assemblies. Free replacement at a franchised dealer.
Kenworth is recalling 6,857 2018 T880 and T680 trucks, along with 579 and 567 trucks, because some seat belt buckle assemblies were glued instead of sewn during manufacturing. If the buckle assembly separates under load, the occupant can lose proper restraint in a crash; the dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The front seat belt buckle assembly on the 2018 Kenworth T880, T680, 579, and 567 trucks is the latch point that locks the belt tongue in place. In normal use, the buckle stays joined together so the belt can hold an occupant against the seat during a hard stop or crash.
On affected trucks, some IMMI buckle assemblies were glued instead of sewn during manufacturing. The supplier found that glued assemblies were mixed into the same finished-parts bin as properly sewn assemblies. Under load, including crash forces, the buckle assembly can come apart instead of staying locked together.
The replacement buckle is properly sewn. There is no warning sign before failure. The buckle can look normal during everyday use, so the VIN and dealer inspection decide whether a truck is included.
Who's affected?
Covers four truck models from the 2018 model year, all tied to the same front seat belt buckle assembly.
| 2018 Kenworth T880 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2018 Kenworth T680 | seat belt |
| 2018 Peterbilt 579 | seat belt |
| 2018 Peterbilt 567 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 6,857 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 5 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the seat belt buckle assembly separates, it can keep an occupant from being properly restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of a crash. Schedule the recall repair soon and have the affected buckle assemblies replaced. Repair is free at any franchised Kenworth dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Kenworth T880, T680, 579, or 567 truck is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the free seat-belt buckle assembly replacement that replaces glued, unsewn buckles.
- Bring the recall notice if Kenworth mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V870 when you call.
- Call Kenworth customer service at 1-918-259-3258 with questions about scheduling or dealer instructions.
- Use each seat belt normally until the repair, and ask the dealer whether the affected buckle position is safe to use.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kenworth technician replaces the seat belt buckle assemblies that were not sewn during manufacturing. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you already paid out of pocket for a related seat belt buckle repair before the recall notice, the manufacturer's general reimbursement plan gives you a path to request repayment. Bring repair paperwork and proof of payment to the service desk or contact customer service about the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 7, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 18, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| January 23, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 3, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 3, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 28, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V870?
Recall 18V870 covers 6,857 2018 Kenworth T880, T680, 579, and 567 trucks with seat belt buckle assemblies that were glued instead of sewn during manufacturing. Kenworth dealers will replace the affected buckle assemblies for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Kenworth T880, T680, 579, or 567 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 18V870. If it is, contact a franchised Kenworth dealer to schedule the seat belt buckle assembly replacement. Reference recall number 18V870 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 dealers will replace the affected seat belt buckle assemblies free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for trucks included in recall 18V870.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is improper restraint in a crash. If the seat belt buckle assembly separates under load, the occupant is not properly restrained, which increases crash risk under the official recall consequence. The dealer repair replaces the buckle assemblies that were not sewn.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V870000 |
|---|---|
| Kenworth customer service | 1-918-259-3258 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V870 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V870000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation 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 →