RoadVitals

2023 Peterbilt 579

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.
3
Latest Jan 15, 2026
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.
11
Latest Mar 24, 2025
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Peterbilt 579, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) and visibility categories. 11 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 85 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

  • Powertrain (other)266.7%
  • Visibility133.3%

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

11 campaigns cover this model year

View all 11

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
25V181000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

Mar 24, 2025
238 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Peterbilt 520, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T680 trucks. The high voltage (HV) contactors may open, causing a sudden loss of high voltage and a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the software and replace the electrical harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2025. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 and Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 25PBC and 25KWC.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 25PBC and 25KWCView on NHTSA.gov
24V915000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Dec 9, 2024
220,764 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
The risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24KWL 24PBLView on NHTSA.gov
24V190000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Mar 20, 2024
70,509 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.
The risk: A loss of communication between the gear shifter and the transmission may result in the vehicle becoming disabled after coming to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24PBE and 24KWE.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 24PBE/24KWEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2026

Peterbilt has a recall 24V190 for the right hand shifter stalk. This VIN is not on the recall list however it does have the defective shift stalk and has been replaced 3 times prior to the recall. The most recent replacement was 8/20/24 replaced with the same defective part #. How do I get this truck on the recall list?

NHTSA ID
11711116
Incident
Dec 12, 2025
Visibility
Filed Sep 17, 2024

While driving in the rain, the wipers would not work. The driver tried and tried to work the switch but the wipers would not work. Later, the wipers would work. At times the wipers work, at times they don't. We took the truck to the Peterbilt dealer and the problem could not be duplicated, they offered no solutions, no direction other than to bring it back when it happens again.

NHTSA ID
11615040
Incident
Jul 1, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 21, 2023

1. The components that malfunctioned were the "engine/transmission match" and "transmission communications failure idle torque limit". Yes, my unit is available for inspection at any time. 2. When I had to stop on the freeway due to heavy traffic, the gearshift would not budge, causing an even bigger traffic delay. I had to turn off/on my unit multiple times to be able to pull over, safely. If I were not able to change gears while on the road, it could create a big accident due to faulty parts. 3. Yes, my local Peterbilt is aware of this issue and ordered a "right hand turn stalk shift" (part# Q21-6155-211X) to fix the issue. I was told that this replacement part was out of stock and may need to wait up to 3 months for it. I called other Peterbilt's in CA but everyone was out of stock, with 20 to 30 trucks also waiting for the same part. I even called Canada to see if they had parts, but they are also out of this particular part, with a long waitlist of trucks at their dealerships. Peterbilt had to recall the gearshifts on their units back in 2018: https://www.truckinginfo.com/278812/kenworth-peterbilt-trucks-recalled-for-transmission-gear-display 4. There were no prior indications that the gearshift needed inspection. The vehicle only indicated "Transmission fault" when the gearshift became stuck. When I put my unit in "Drive" the dashboard showed an "!" and when I put my unit in "R" the dashboard showed the unit was in "Drive". These incorrect messages/gear changes can be very dangerous. My unit is a 2023 Peterbilt 579 with only 90K miles, there is no reason it would have a faulty gearshift and no reason why each dealership has a waitlist of 20-30 trucks waiting for this exact part. Paccar clearly did not learn from the 2018 recall 118-A. I believe Peterbilt is knowingly manufacturing faulty parts in an effort to make as many sales as possible. These faulty parts need immediate attention but are completely out of stock nationally.

NHTSA ID
11523128
Incident
May 12, 2023

Manufacturer communications

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

E316

ENGINE

235 chassis have been removed from the chassis list and unflagged in PRWS due to expiration of applicable warranty coverage. 5 chassis have been added to the chassis list. The total chassis population is now 15,637.

46-020

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Certain unaffected chassis have been removed from the chassis population.

43-088

ENGINE

This optional software update is now available for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023 PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines. This update provides customers with additional time to service their trucks before a DEF-related derate occurs. The software is being offered to customers in alignment with recently updated regulatory agency guidance.

41-029

ENGINE

Incorrect air filters may be inadvertently installed in certain chassis equipped with under-hood Donaldson air filter housings.

E316

ENGINE

The Condition, Chassis Affected, Service Action, Warranty, and Procedure sections have been updated to include the latest prognostics bulletin verbiage.

43-088

ENGINE

"The software is not yet available. The bulletin will be updated when more information is available."

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 579 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027020—
2026120—
2025070—
2024370—
2023Viewing3110—
20226150—
2021190—
2020460—
2019282—
20187142—
20173133—
20163111—
2015491—
20142121—
20131131—
2012061—
2011040—
2010030—
2009020—
2008020—
2007010—
2006010—

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.