# Kenworth T600: Used-Buy Risk, Price & Recalls | Big Rig Risk

> Used Kenworth T600 prices ($31,950–$50,000), high-mileage C15 and Eaton Fuller risks, NHTSA recalls, and the pre-2010 California registration trap.

**Verdict:** inspect

$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.

**Observed used price:** $31,950–$50,000

**Documented failure risks:**
- Caterpillar C15 turbocharger bearing: Turbo bearing damage costs $3,000–$5,000 to repair. Check for boost lag, oil in the charge pipe, and shaft play.
- Caterpillar C15 water pump: A water pump replacement runs $800–$1,200 in parts and labor. Check for weeping at the pump and coolant history.
- Eaton Fuller transmission (high-mile): Hard 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.
- Meritor rear axle bearing: Whining or growling that worsens under load signals rear-axle bearing wear. Listen under load.

**Recall:** NHTSA 11V203000 / 07V279000 / 05V570000 / 08V487000 (ENGINE / ENGINE:DIESEL)

## Sources
- [Kenworth T600 used listings](https://www.soarr.com/for-sale/trucks/0/Kenworth/T600/all-for-sale) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [NHTSA recalls by vehicle — Kenworth T600](https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/recallsByVehicle?make=kenworth&model=t600&modelYear=2007) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Caterpillar Truck Engines Legacy Maintenance Guide](https://skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/caterpillar-truck-engines-legacy-maintenance-guide) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Eaton Fuller Transmission Problems and Solutions](https://skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/eaton-fuller-transmission-problems-and-solutions) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Meritor Axle Maintenance and Common Failures](https://skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/meritor-axle-maintenance-and-common-failures) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [CARB Regulations for Trucks](https://www.skylinerrepaircenter.com/blog/carb-regulations-for-trucks-even-if-you-don-t-drive-in-california) (accessed 2026-09-11)

_Last verified 2026-09-11. Source: Big Rig Risk — https://bigrigrisk.com/trucks/kenworth-t600/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._