At a glance
- WMIs
- 1XK or 1NK (U.S.), 2XK or 2NK (Canada), 3WK or 3BK (Mexico)
- X or N
- Position 2: X is a complete truck, N an incomplete one
- Model
- Position 4: Y is the T680, Z the T880, 1 the W990
- Models in vPIC
- 44, from the C500 to the W990
On this page
- How to read a Kenworth VIN
- Example: a Kenworth VIN decoded
- Why does vPIC warn that a Kenworth's model year may be wrong?
- Kenworth model, chassis, engine and GVWR codes
- Where was my Kenworth built?
- How is a Kenworth glider kit coded?
- Where to find the VIN on a Kenworth
- Kenworth models in NHTSA's database
- Common questions
- Sources
How to read a Kenworth VIN
Kenworth's VIN filing with NHTSA is a single engineering drawing, R302-1115. Its latest revision, dated July 14, 2022, applies from the 2023 model year. Here it is position by position, next to a real 2022 T880:
| Position | What Kenworth's chart codes | On 1NKZL40X3NJ124251 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Builder and type: 1XK or 1NK (U.S.), 2XK or 2NK (Canada), 3WK or 3BK (Mexico), SFN (British-built complete), SBV (U.K. Leyland-built incomplete) | 1NK: incomplete vehicle built in the U.S. |
| 4 | Model | Z: T880 |
| 5 | Chassis: tractor or truck, and axle layout | L: truck 6x4 |
| 6 | Engine | 4: Cummins ISX or X15 |
| 7 | GVWR | 0: 57,001 to 70,000 lb |
| 8 | Brakes (labeled reserved space on the chart) | X: air brakes |
| 9 | Check digit | 3 |
| 10 | Model year; each code stands for two years | N: 1992 or 2022 |
| 11 | Plant of manufacture | J: Chillicothe, Ohio |
| 12 to 17 | Six-digit serial number | 124251 |
Source: Kenworth drawing R302-1115, Instructions-VIN Code, filed with NHTSA in July 2022.
Example: a Kenworth VIN decoded
1NKZL40X3NJ124251 is the last VIN listed in recall 21V-906. In it, PACCAR recalled 910 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with a work (winch) brake option, used on wreckers and auto haulers, because the work brake could release the service brakes while winching and let the truck roll.
NHTSA's vPIC decodes the VIN as a 2022 Kenworth T880 truck, cab behind engine, 6x4, with a 15-liter inline 6-cylinder Cummins ISX/X15 diesel (400 to 600 hp), air brakes and class 8 GVWR, noted as 57,001 to 70,000 lb, built in Chillicothe, Ohio. It also shows two warnings: the truck left the plant incomplete, so a body builder may have changed it, and the model year may be wrong.
The first VIN in the same recall, 1NK1X4TX6KJ300654, is a 2019 W990: 1 for the W990, X for a truck in the other chassis category, 4 for the Cummins ISX/X15 again and T for a GVWR of 80,001 lb and above.
Why does vPIC warn that a Kenworth's model year may be wrong?
Kenworth's chart gives every model year code two years, 30 years apart: A is 1980 or 2010, N is 1992 or 2022, S is 1995 or 2025.
Cars and light trucks settle this with position 7. Under 49 CFR 565, a letter there means the year falls in 2010 through 2039 and a number means 1980 through 2009. That rule only covers vehicles of 10,000 lb GVWR or less. On a Kenworth, position 7 is the GVWR code, which can be a letter or a number in any year, so vPIC has to pick one year and flag it.
The fix is simple: the certification label shows the month and year the truck was built. Enter that model year in the decoder and run the VIN again. Glider kits are the exception, with 0 in position 10 instead of a year.
Kenworth model, chassis, engine and GVWR codes
Positions 4 to 8 describe the truck. These are the codes on Kenworth's current chart:
| Position | Codes |
|---|---|
| 4: model | A T6 Series, B T4 Series, C C5 Series, D T8 Series, E K100E, F T7 Series, H T3 Series, J K270/K370, K K100, L L7 Series, M T300, P K300, R other off-highway, S S10/A3, T T2 Series, U K3 Series or KW45/KW55, V K260/K360, W W9 Series, X KW45/KW55, Y T680, Z T880, 1 W990, 2 T180, 3 T280, 4 T380, 5 T480, 6 L770 |
| 5: chassis | Tractors A 4x2, B 4x4, C 6x2, D 6x4, E 6x6; trucks H 4x2, J 4x4, K 6x2, L 6x4, M 6x6; P tractor other, X truck other, G glider kit |
| 6: PACCAR, newer Cummins and electric engines | P PACCAR MX/MX-13, K PACCAR MX-11, J PX-9, N PX-8, M PX-6/PX-7, 4 Cummins ISX/X15, 3 Cummins ISX11.9G/ISX12G/ISX12N, 2 Cummins ISL G/ISLG-NZ/L9N, S Cummins B6.7N, W Westport GX, L battery electric, H fuel cell electric |
| 6: Caterpillar, Detroit and other Cummins engines | Caterpillar A 3306, B 3406/C15/C16, C C18, D 3126/C7, E 3176, F C9, T C10/C11, U C12/C13; R Detroit Series 60; Cummins Y ISB, Z ISC, 1 CG, 5 ISL, 6 N14, 7 ISX11.9/ISX12, 8 ISB Euro III/IV/V, 9 M11, 0 ISM |
| 7: GVWR | 5 16,001 to 19,500 lb; 6 19,501 to 26,000; 7 26,001 to 33,000; 8 33,001 to 47,000; 9 47,001 to 57,000; 0 57,001 to 70,000; E 70,001 to 80,000; T 80,001 and above; G glider kit |
| 8: brakes | X air, H hydraulic, E electric vehicle with air brakes, A hybrid with air brakes, B hybrid with hydraulic brakes, G glider kit |
Code X in position 6 marks a diesel test engine.
Where was my Kenworth built?
Position 11 names the plant. Kenworth's chart lists ten:
- U.S.: J Chillicothe, Ohio; R Renton, Washington; S Seattle, Washington; D Denton, Texas; K Kansas City, Missouri.
- Canada: M Montreal, Quebec; C Burnaby, British Columbia.
- Mexico: F Mexicali.
- U.K.: A Sandbach, Cheshire; L Leyland, Lancashire.
Position 1 should agree: 1 for the U.S., 2 for Canada, 3 for Mexico and S for Britain. A 2025 T180 from recall 25V-041, 2NK2HM5H1SM185607, shows the Canadian pattern, with 2NK up front and M for Montreal. vPIC also lists four codes for Kenworth Mexicana: 3NK, 3NM, 3WM and 3XK.
How is a Kenworth glider kit coded?
A glider kit gets G in positions 5, 6, 7 and 8 and 0 in position 10 in place of a model year. Kenworth's chart notes that every glider built on or after December 15, 1997 is assigned a VIN, so a glider from before that date may not have one from Kenworth.
Where to find the VIN on a Kenworth
Start at the driver's door. The certification label on the door edge or the pillar behind it carries the VIN, the month and year of manufacture, and the GVWR (49 CFR 567.4). A Kenworth with N in position 2 was finished by another company, which adds its own final-stage label with the same VIN and its completion date (49 CFR 567.5).
The VIN plate you can read through a car's windshield isn't required here, because that rule covers only vehicles rated at 10,000 lb GVWR or less (49 CFR 565.13(f)). The title and registration carry the VIN as well.
Kenworth models in NHTSA's database
vPIC lists 44 Kenworth models under make ID 532: 540, 542, 548CH, C5 Series, C500, C540, C550, K 100E, K100, K260/K360, K270/K370, K3 Series, K300, KS, KT, KW45/KW55, L7 Series, L700, L770, Other Off-Highway, S10/A3, S106R4, T180, T2 Series, T2000, T280, T3 Series, T300, T380, T4 Series, T400, T450, T480, T6 Series, T600, T680, T7 Series, T8 Series, T800, T880, W300, W9 Series, W900 and W990.
Peterbilt, Kenworth's sister brand at PACCAR, uses the same chart layout with its own model and engine codes; see the Peterbilt VIN decoder. For other heavy trucks, see Freightliner and Mack.