Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Peterbilt 379, most frequently naming the fuel system, body & structure and brakes categories. 10 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 2 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 4 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD WHILE IN PARK, BODY BUSHINGS AND SUPPORT IS WORN AND RUSTED. FUEL HAD LACK OF POWER AND EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL AND WOULD NOT START WITH OUT STARTING FLUID AND WAS THE COLOR OF OFF ROAD DIESEL. *TR
IN REFERENCE TO MY PRIOR COMPLAINT REF. #10004102. TO WHICH YOU REPLIED NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BECAUSE THERE ARE "NO OTHER REPORT SIMILAR TO" MINE. IT APPEARS THAT THE DOT AND DOE DON'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. THE DOE HAS HAD THREE SIMILAR FAILURES OF FONTAINE 5TH-WHEELS. HTTP://WWW.HANFORD.GOV/LESSONS/SITELL/LL01/2001-47.HTM PROJECT HANFORD LESSONS LEARNED. TITLE: TRACTOR-TRAILER FIFTH WHEEL DETACHMENTS. DATE: DECEMBER 17, 2001, IDENTIFIER: 2001-RL-HNF-0047. *NLM
LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE CAUSING TANK TO HANG FROM THE TRUCK, STRAP HAD HAIRLINE CRACK ON INNER SIDE BELOW WELD, THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE FUEL LEAKAGE, DEALER CLAIMS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *MJS
WHEEL SEALS & BEARINGS WENT OUT. HAD BEARINGS & SEALS REPLACED & THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. ALSO WHEEL HUB AND SPINDLE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
Information Only â Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.
POWER TRAIN
Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.
EQUIPMENT
Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | 9 | 2 | — |
| 2007 | 6 | 9 | 4 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — |
| 2005 | 7 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 47.6 |
| 1999 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1997Viewing | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.