RoadVitals

2000 Peterbilt 379

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jul 21, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Apr 1, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Peterbilt 379, most frequently naming the interior & seats, body & structure and transmission categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Interior & seats425.0%
  • Body & structure318.8%
  • Transmission212.5%
  • Brakes212.5%
  • Steering212.5%
  • Suspension212.5%
  • Powertrain (other)16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V125000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

Apr 1, 2003
154 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
The risk: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FRONT AXLE HUBS. NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2003. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ADVISED US THAT PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITH A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 303-A/03KW2View on NHTSA.gov
02V037003

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Jul 15, 2002
4,513 units potentially affected
The defect: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN ARVINMERITOR AND DANA AXLES. PETERBILT WILL RECALL 1,434 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 1999, TO MAY 14, 2000, AND FROM JULY 22 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. KENWORTH WILL RECALL 859 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 1999, TO MAY 23, 2000, AND FROM JULY 27, 2000, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND KENNWORTH WILL RECALL AN ADDITIONAL 4,151 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DANA AXLES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23 TO DECEMBER 6, 1999, AND FROM MAY 23 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.
The risk: THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.
PACCAR, INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 102A/02KW2View on NHTSA.gov
01V140006

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Aug 28, 2001
2,294 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.
The risk: THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4000 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.
PACCAR, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Suspension
Filed Jul 21, 2010
Fire reported

2000 PETERBILT 379 UTILITY TRAILER WHEEL BEARING CAUGHT ON FIRE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0205-89)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF UPDATED 9/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE BEARINGS WENT DRY AND STARTED A GREASE FIRE, NOT THE TIRES. UPDATED 09/1/410

NHTSA ID
10345429
Incident
Jun 2, 2010
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 12, 2004

THE WELD BETWEEN THE SHAFT HOUSING AND AIR CHAMBER ARM WAS BREAKING. *PH *LA

NHTSA ID
10063160
Brakes
Filed Nov 25, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM OPERATED POORLY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ALL FOUR REAR WHEEL BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WERE CRACKED. ELEVEN FAILURES WERE REPORTED WITH THE DEALER WITHIN 22 MONTHS. THE WRITER, JOHN REED DAVIS, A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WAS RETAINED BY THE CONSUMER. (PETERBILT 379 TRI AXLE DUMP TRUCK WITH S CAM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED ON THE TRI AXLE). *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10044548
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH S CAM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE INSTALLED ON THE TRI AXLE TRUCK. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON IN OTHER TRUCKS WITH LARGE ENGINES SUCH AS 600 HP AND DANA SPICER DUAL REAR AXLE CONFIGURATION. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044683
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND GOING OVER A POT HOLE IN THE PAVEMENT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. NLM

NHTSA ID
8004016
Incident
Dec 20, 2001
Body & structureSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Nov 29, 2001

VEHICLE IS LEANING TOO MUCH TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND SEVERAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS, AND NO ONE CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ASKING NHTSA TO ASSIST ON THIS ISSUE.*AK. SEVERAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE STEER TIRES WERE WORN, THE STEER AXLE WHEEL BEARING WAS BROKEN AND THE RIGHT STEER AXLE KINPIN HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY, THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED, THE CLUTCH WAS ADJUSTED, THE STEERING WAS TIGHT, AND THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
899684
Incident
Nov 15, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Nov 29, 2001

VEHICLE IS LEANING TOO MUCH TO THE LEFT. *AK

NHTSA ID
899683
Incident
Nov 28, 2001
Steering
Filed Aug 22, 2001

POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE AND WAS REPLACED AT 183467, IT IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN AT 393927, CONSUMER STATES THE BRACKET BROKE AT THE TOP MOUNTING HOLE, CONSUMER FEELS A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF A SERVICE BULLETIN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
562632

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

02-160

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Information Only – Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.

32-015

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.

11-001

POWER TRAIN

Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.

32-016

EQUIPMENT

Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.

01-075

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.

34-066

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Peterbilt 379 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021000—
2016010—
2015010—
2014010—
2013020—
2012020—
2011020—
2010020—
2009051—
2008092—
2007694—
2006271—
2005760—
2004140—
2003350—
2002020—
2001640—
2000Viewing126047.6
1999560—
1998620—
1997400—
1996210—
1995300—
1994100—
1992100—
1991100—
1988010—
1987020—

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.