KENWORTH 2002: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:HAND CONTROL/VALVE

Recall Insight

This NHTSA action (record #02V241001) was formally reported on September 10, 2002. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. KENWORTH is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The documented reason for this recall is: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX TC-7 TRAILER CONTROL HAND-OPERATED VALVE WITH PUSH-TO-CONNECT FITTINGS. THE DELIVERY PORT IN THE VALVE BODY MAY BE PARTIALLY BLOCKED DUE TO A PROBLEM DURING THE MOLDING PROCESS. The specific hazard cited in the filing is: SUCH BLOCKAGE MAY SLOW THE DELIVERY AND EXHAUST OF AIR TO AND FROM THE TRAILER BRAKES WHEN THEY ARE OPERATED BY THIS HAND-OPERATED TRAILER CONTROL VALVE.. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: United States. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory. The remedy documented by the agency is: PACCAR WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE HAND VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED D… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by NHTSA. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 24 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.