Paccar is recalling hundreds of thousands of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks over an issue with Bendix ECUs that has prompted similar recalls at Mack, Volvo and International.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Paccar is recalling nearly 221,000 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks of various models and model years that are equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced ECUs. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
Affected Kenworth trucks include:
- C500B (2024-25)
- T280 (2023-25)
- T370 (2022-23)
- T380 (2021-25)
- T440 (2021-23)
- T480 (2022-25)
- T680 (2021-25)
- T800B (2021-25)
- T880 (2021-25)
- W900B (2021-25)
- W990 (2021-25)
Peterbilt trucks affected by the Bendix ECU recall include:
- 337 (2021-23)
- 348 (2021-23)
- 365 (2022-25)
- 367 (2022-25)
- 389 (2021-25)
- 520 (2022-25)
- 536 (2024-25)
- 537 (2023-25)
- 548 (2021-25)
- 567 (2021-25)
- 579 (2021-25)
- 589 (2024-25)
Certain safety systems that depend on the Bendix ECU may perform poorly or completely lose functionality, increasing the risk of a crash. Those systems include automatic traction control, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control, active cruise control and collision mitigation system.
Defective EC80 ECUs were installed in “towing vehicles.” Bendix’s ECUs use a “power line carrier” network that allows a tractor and trailer to communicate through a signal on the electrical connection between the two. Signal failure is more likely on trucks that tow more than one trailer than on those that pull only one trailer.
As of Dec. 2, Paccar had received 2,505 warranty claims. There had been no field reports, crashes or injuries related to the Bendix ECU issue.
Authorized dealers will reprogram affected Bendix ECU software for free. Notification letters to owners of affected Paccar trucks will be sent on Feb. 7, 2025.
Paccar’s recall stems from a larger Bendix ECU recall issued on Oct. 11. Initially, that recall affected more than 400,000 ECUs that were sold to Volvo Trucks and Navistar. However, that recall was expanded on Nov. 25 to include more than 700,000 ECUs and added Paccar to the list of manufacturers affected.
In late October, Mack and International issued recalls related to Bendix ECUs. Updated documents indicate Mack is recalling 51,000 trucks and International is recalling more than 105,000 trucks. Volvo Trucks’ recall has been updated to include more than 115,000 trucks with the ECU. In total, nearly 500,000 trucks with Bendix ECUs have been recalled.
For more information about the Kenworth recall, contact its customer service at 425-828-5888 with recall number 24KWL. Questions about the Peterbilt recall can be directed to the manufacturer’s customer service at 940-591-4220 with recall number 24PBL. NHTSA’s number for the Paccar recall is 24V-915. LL
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