Recall on record for this model family
- NHTSA 11V203000 / 07V279000 / 05V570000 / 08V487000 (ENGINE / ENGINE:DIESEL) confirmed — official notice
- NHTSA 09V239000 / 07V073000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR) confirmed — official notice
- NHTSA 05V543000 / 06V447000 (STEERING / STEERING:COLUMN) confirmed — official notice
- NHTSA 07V132000 / 10V634000 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY) confirmed — official notice
Verify the unit's serial number against the official notice before purchase.
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 11, 2026.
$31,950–$50,000 observed (3 real listings; discontinued 2007, so scarce and high-mileage — the priced units show 760k–1.39M miles). The whole used population is pre-2010, so it likely cannot be legally registered in California without a $15k–$25k DPF retrofit. Inspect the high-mile powertrain hard.
Confidence 50%3 observed comparables
As of Sep 11, 2026What can make the cheap machine expensive?
| Component | Severity | Documented repair cost |
|---|---|---|
| Caterpillar C15 water pump | medium | $800–$1,200 |
| Meritor rear axle bearing | medium | not yet verified |
Turbo bearing damage costs $3,000–$5,000 to repair. Check for boost lag, oil in the charge pipe, and shaft play.
$3,000–$5,000A water pump replacement runs $800–$1,200 in parts and labor. Check for weeping at the pump and coolant history.
$800–$1,200Hard shifting into gear affects nearly every Fuller transmission over 300,000 miles — and both priced T600s with mileage show 760k–1.39M mi. Road-test the shift quality carefully.
Cost not yet verifiedWhining or growling that worsens under load signals rear-axle bearing wear. Listen under load.
Cost not yet verifiedCommon questions
How much does a used Kenworth T600 cost?
Observed listings range roughly $31,950 to $50,000 depending on age, condition, and configuration (as of 2026-09-11).
What fails on the Kenworth T600?
The most cited concerns in our evidence record: Caterpillar C15 turbocharger bearing, Caterpillar C15 water pump, Eaton Fuller transmission (high-mile). See the risk breakdown above for details and sources.
Is the Kenworth T600 under recall?
A safety recall exists for this model family — verify the unit's serial number against the official notice linked on this page before buying.
From the research record
- PRICE (SECONDARY, soarr.com, as-of 2026-09-11; 3 real prices): 2007 $31,950 (761,039 mi); 2005 $40,000 (mileage not listed); 2007 $50,000 (1,386,652 mi). Small sample — discontinued 2007, genuine scarcity. https://www.soarr.com/for-sale/trucks/0/Kenworth/T600/all-for-sale
- RECALL (PRIMARY, NHTSA): MY2007 query Count=14, MY2005 Count=8. Campaign #s + components verified verbatim from the API (ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES AIR, STEERING, SUSPENSION, AXLE ASSEMBLY, FIFTH WHEEL). Re-query the endpoint for verbatim Summary/Remedy text. https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/recallsByVehicle?make=kenworth&model=t600&modelYear=2007
- CARB (SECONDARY): the entire T600 population is pre-2010 — 2007-2009 units "Need diesel particulate filter retrofit ($15,000-$25,000)"; pre-2004 "Must replace engine or retire truck." The single biggest buyer risk: a cheap T600 likely cannot be legally operated in California. https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/carb-regulations-for-trucks-even-if-you-don-t-drive-in-california
Sources
- Kenworth T600 used listingsweb · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-11
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — Kenworth T600official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-11
- Caterpillar Truck Engines Legacy Maintenance Guideweb · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-11
- Eaton Fuller Transmission Problems and Solutionsweb · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-11
- Meritor Axle Maintenance and Common Failuresweb · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-11
- CARB Regulations for Trucksweb · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-11
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