NHTSA Complaint #11388343 — 2021 KENWORTH T880

TRACTOR ABS SYSTEM APPLIES THE BRAKES TO THE TRAILERS WHILE CORNERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHILE ENTERING OR EXITING A HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP THE BRAKES UNTIL THE TRACTOR AND TRAILERS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THESE TRUCKS AND TRAILERS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 155,000 LBS., AND LOSING CONTROL IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE ON THE ROAD. THESE TRUCKS ARE 2021 MODELS WITH BENDIX ABS SYSTEMS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF KENWORTH (THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE) AND BENDIX (THE ABS SYSTEM MANUFACTURE). LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SENSE THE TRACTORS WERE PUT INTO SERVICE APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AGO. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP THE TRAILER BRAKES, AND THERE IS NOTHING THE DRIVER CAN DO TO CONTROL THE TRUCK WHILE THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP.