PACCAR recalls 5,919 trucks over electrical defect

PACCAR is recalling 5,919 model year 2027 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks because of the power distribution center. It is the box that routes electrical power through the cab, and may have oil in it. The company reported the problem to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on July 27. NHTSA lists it as recall 26V485. PACCAR calls it 26PACD.

If the box fails, a driver can lose engine power, antilock brakes, exterior lights, windshield wipers or the defroster. Only one of those comes with a warning. “ABS malfunction warning lamp. No warning is provided for the other failure modes,” PACCAR told regulators. Lose your lights or wipers, and the dash tells you nothing first.

Which Trucks the PACCAR Recall Covers All 12 are 2027 models. Tractors and the Peterbilt 567 were built between June 9 and July 13. The rest were built between June 22 or June 23 and July 13.

Kenworth T680: 1,451 Kenworth T880: 1,221 Peterbilt 567: 1,123 Peterbilt 579: 989 Peterbilt 589: 524 Peterbilt 548: 109 Kenworth W990: 105 Kenworth T280: 87 Kenworth T380: 82 Kenworth T480: 81 Peterbilt 537: 76 Peterbilt 536: 71 What Went Wrong at the Supplier An air filter broke.

“A damaged air compressor filter caused an oil leak into the soldering process of the printed circuit boards,” PACCAR wrote in its filing. The parts came from PKC Group North America of Farmington Hills, Mich. PACCAR opened an investigation July 13 and held suspect trucks the next day. Trucks still at the plants were checked there.

This recall covers the ones that already shipped. The company estimates 0. 3% of the recalled trucks actually have the defect. Nobody knows which ones until a dealer reads the serial number on the box. As of July 27, PACCAR had no warranty claims, no reports from the field, and no injuries.

What the PACCAR Truck Recall Means for Owners Watch for the letter, then call your dealer. PACCAR plans to notify dealers and owners Sept. 25. That first letter explains the risk. A second letter comes later, once the fix is ready. The repair is free. A dealer checks your PDC serial number against a list from the supplier.

If it matches, they replace the box. PACCAR left one line blank on its filing: the date the recall becomes searchable by VIN. Until that goes live, the dealer is the way to find out. Already paid for the repair yourself? PACCAR will cover it under its standard reimbursement plan. Peterbilt owners can call 940-591-4220. Kenworth owners can call 425-828-5888.

Ask about recall 26PACD. NHTSA’s hotline is 888-327-4236. The oil also puts the trucks out of step with three federal safety standards — the ones covering defrosters, wipers and lights. That matters on a dealer lot.

NHTSA told PACCAR it is “illegal for anyone,” including a dealer, “to sell an item of equipment or vehicle that fails to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.” The post PACCAR recalls 5,919 trucks over electrical defect appeared first on FreightWaves.