The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 5,000 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks from model years 2023 through 2026 are affected. The issue stems from a potential failure in the exterior lighting switch. This defect not only impacts the functionality of hazard lights but also disables the instrument panel’s backlight brightness adjustment. Both malfunctions fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 101, “Control and Displays,” and FMVSS 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

Hazards of Malfunctioning Lights

If the hazard lights do not function, other drivers on the road may not be able to recognize a stalled or stationary truck, posing a serious safety risk. Additionally, an instrument display with an unadjustable brightness level could obscure vital safety information, potentially distracting the driver and increasing the chances of a collision.

List of Affected Models

The recall involves the following Kenworth and Peterbilt truck models:

• 2025 Kenworth T180

• 2025-26 Kenworth T280

• 2023-26 Kenworth T380

• 2024-26 Kenworth T480

• 2025 Peterbilt 535

• 2024-26 Peterbilt 536

• 2024-26 Peterbilt 537

• 2024-26 Peterbilt 548

• 2025 Peterbilt 567

Reported Issues and Recall Scope

As of January 20, Paccar had logged five warranty claims and 12 reports related to issues with the exterior lighting switch. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities linked to this defect. Paccar estimates that only about 1% of the affected trucks—out of the more than 5,000 identified—are equipped with a faulty exterior lighting switch.

Next Steps for Owners

To resolve the issue, Paccar dealers will update the vehicle cab controller unit (VECU) software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Truck owners experiencing a nonresponsive lighting switch can reset the system temporarily by performing a key cycle.

Truck owners will be notified via mail starting March 30. For additional details, Kenworth owners can contact customer service at 425-828-5888 and reference recall number 25KWB, while Paccar owners can call 940-591-4220 with recall number 25PBB. The NHTSA has assigned this recall the identifier 25V-041.

Source: Land Line

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