NHTSA Complaint #10448152 — 1998 KENWORTH W900

REFERENCE VOQ#10259426. I FILED A COMPLAINT IN FEBRUARY 2009 FOR A FRAME RAIL THAT CRACKED ON MY 1998 KENWORTH W900. I SPENT $11,470 TO HAVE THE RAIL REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED KENWORTH DEALER. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW, WITH NO EXTRAS OR ADD-ONS SINCE OWNING THE TRUCK. ALL SERVICING HAS BEEN DONE AT AUTHORIZED KENWORTH REPAIR FACILITIES AND I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL DOT/CVSA INSPECTIONS; THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IN DECEMBER 2010, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER FRAME RAIL CRACK IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LOCATION AS THE FIRST, BEHIND THE REAR SHACKLE OF THE FRONT SPRING. THIS TIME THE ENGINE SHIFTED AND FORCED THE FAN INTO THE RADIATOR. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FRAME SHOP WHERE THE RAIL WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE TECH THERE SAID HE HAD JUST DONE ANOTHER RAIL ON A PETERBUILT OF THE SAME VINTAGE AND FELT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED SO QUICKLY ON MY TRUCK, PLUS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE WITH OTHER KENWORTH/PETERBUILT TRACTORS. UPDATED 03/09/12 *BF *TR