2019 Kenworth T680 PACCAR MX-13 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $70,000–$100,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The T680 is Kenworth's flagship aerodynamic Class 8 sleeper — aerodynamic, feature-loaded, and powered by PACCAR's own MX-13 engine. The MX-13 has grown into a reliable engine, but early versions (pre-2017) had well-documented problems. A 2019 is on the mature end of that platform — still verify with a diagnostic scan.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
No federal database covers this category in a form we can match to a single year and model. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2019 Kenworth T680 PACCAR MX-13
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
EGR cooler failures on the MX-13 cause coolant loss and can lead to hydrolocking or catastrophic engine failure. This is the most expensive failure mode on this platform. White exhaust smoke is the warning.
Repair cost (estimate): $2,000-$5,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
NOx sensors, DEF dosers, and SCR catalyst failures trigger derate modes. Pre-purchase ECM scan must show no active emissions faults.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$3,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Injector sealing washers leak externally, causing diesel smell and visible fuel weeping at the head. Common on higher-mileage MX-13s.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,000-$2,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The T680 with Bendix Fusion ADAS has radar and camera systems that require calibration after windshield replacement or front-end repairs. Verify all systems are active.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$1,500 to calibrate
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗White exhaust smoke — EGR cooler failure imminent or occurred
- ✗Active emissions fault codes on pre-purchase scan
- ✗Diesel smell at idle — injector sealing washer leak
- ✗Any ADAS warning lights active
Good Signs
- ✓Kenworth dealer PM history documented
- ✓ECM scan clean with no active faults
- ✓EGR cooler replaced or inspected recently
- ✓Long-haul highway use — easier on the platform than local or regional
More from Kenworth
Similar semi & commercial trucks
2019 Volvo VNL 64T 760 D13
$68,000–$98,000
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126 Sleeper
$65,000–$95,000
2018 Mack Anthem MP8
$62,000–$90,000
2018 International LoneStar A26
$60,000–$88,000
2020 Peterbilt 579 PACCAR MX-13
$80,000–$115,000
2020 Freightliner Cascadia DD15 Sleeper
$80,000–$115,000
2019 International ProStar Cummins ISX15
$52,000–$78,000
2018 Peterbilt 389 Cummins X15
$85,000–$130,000
2019 Western Star 49X DD16
$90,000–$135,000
2019 Ford F-650 Super Duty
$42,000–$68,000
2018 Freightliner M2 106 DD8
$35,000–$60,000
Found a specific Kenworth T680 PACCAR MX-13?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2019 Kenworth T680 PACCAR MX-13 in general. A free read looks at the one you're considering— it checks that seller's asking price against the market and names the issues that matter most for this exact year.
Get a free read on it →Instant, on the page, no card and no account. The year, make and model come with you — you add the asking price and the mileage.
The free read stops short of a verdict, because that needs the photos. The full report — $7.99 takes your photos and the seller's description, does the fair-offer math, and ends in BUY, NEGOTIATE or WALK AWAY with a negotiation script. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.