2000 Peterbilt 379 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 Peterbilt 379, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
FRONT DOORS UNLATCH WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, ALSO AN AIR RIDE WAS INSTALLED FOR THE CAB, BUT IT'S BEGINNING TO BUCKLE NEAR THE AIR CLEANER. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
VEHICLE IS LEANING TOO MUCH TO THE LEFT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED INTO GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WELD BETWEEN THE SHAFT HOUSING AND AIR CHAMBER ARM WAS BREAKING. *PH *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .