RoadVitals

2003 Peterbilt 520

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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.
1
Latest Jun 14, 2019
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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Peterbilt 520. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 8 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.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

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
19V452000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

Jun 14, 2019
343 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 1990-2020 Peterbilt 320 and 520 vehicles built with specific amber rear turn signals. The turn signals may also light up with the stop/tail lights when the brakes are applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Rear Turn signals that illuminate at the same time as the brake lights may create confusion and impair the effectiveness of the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and for trucks with rear amber lights, dealers will add a jumper harness between the chassis electrical harness and amber tail lights, free of charge. The recall began August 1, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 19PBC.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 19PBCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

15-034

STEERING

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) de-energizing and re-energizing procedures have been added to the bulletin for Peterbilt Model 520 BEV.

34-074

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The current chassis harness connector contains a wire that is no longer necessary with the latest electrical architecture. The presence of the wire could result in a false fault code.

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.

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 520 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026020—
2025070—
2024080—
2023050—
2022040—
2021060—
20203120—
2019181—
2018081—
2017051—
2016040—
2015030—
2014010—
2013010—
2012010—
2011010—
2010010—
2009010—
2008010—
2007010—
2006010—
2005010—
2004010—
2003Viewing010—
2002010—
2001010—
2000010—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—
1996010—
1995010—
1994010—
1993010—
1992010—
1991010—
1990010—

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.