By year
Owner complaints about Peterbilt vehicles peaked at 39 in 2001
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 1995 to 2026. 2026 runs through October.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints and recalls files. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Make
Peterbilt
The complete NHTSA record for Peterbilt vehicles: owner complaints, recall campaigns, defect investigations and manufacturer communications, for every model and model year on file.
Most Peterbilt recalls are filed by Paccar, part of PACCAR.
Owner complaints in the last five years46288 on file in all, across 53 models
Recall campaigns29645 in five years
Severity index21.2Crash, fire, injury or death per 100 complaints
Investigations12607 service bulletins
Components
Electrical system draws the most owner complaints about Peterbilt vehicles, 12% of them
Share of all owner complaints on file, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI.
Models
The 379 has the most complaints of any Peterbilt model
Every Peterbilt model with complaints or recalls on file, by complaints. Counts are not rates: NHTSA publishes no sales volumes.
| Model | Model years | Complaints | Severity index | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 379 | 1987 to 2021 | 60 | 28.3 | 80 | 8 |
| 579 | 2006 to 2027 | 42 | 16.7 | 159 | 12 |
| Peterbilt | 1980 to 2003 | 33 | 36.4 | 55 | 11 |
| 389 | 2004 to 2025 | 23 | 8.7 | 139 | 12 |
| 388 | 2004 to 2021 | 21 | 33.3 | 105 | 13 |
| 357 | 1987 to 2021 | 19 | 5.3 | 77 | 5 |
| 386 | 2004 to 2021 | 12 | 16.7 | 83 | 12 |
| 387 | 1998 to 2021 | 11 | 9.1 | 84 | 8 |
| 567 | 2006 to 2027 | 8 | 0.0 | 142 | 11 |
| Conventional | 1993 to 1996 | 8 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 587 | 2006 to 2021 | 6 | 33.3 | 69 | 3 |
| 377 | 1987 to 2001 | 5 | 0.0 | 16 | 0 |
| 320 | 1987 to 2023 | 4 | 50.0 | 111 | 7 |
| 520 | 1990 to 2026 | 4 | 0.0 | 97 | 3 |
| 335 | 2005 to 2011 | 4 | 0.0 | 20 | 3 |
| 378 | 1987 to 2021 | 3 | 0.0 | 69 | 4 |
| 337 | 2008 to 2023 | 3 | 0.0 | 66 | 13 |
| 330 | 1996 to 2023 | 3 | 0.0 | 61 | 15 |
| 379XL | 2000 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 548 | 2020 to 2027 | 2 | 0.0 | 49 | 0 |
| 365 | 2004 to 2025 | 1 | 0.0 | 146 | 7 |
| 537 | 2020 to 2027 | 1 | 0.0 | 39 | 0 |
| Model 220 | 2008 to 2014 | 1 | 100.0 | 13 | 0 |
| Conventional Series | 1980 to 1991 | 1 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 300 Series | 1989 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| City Deliverys Series | 1996 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 367 | 2004 to 2025 | 0 | None | 143 | 7 |
| 385 | 1995 to 2021 | 0 | None | 70 | 4 |
| 348 | 2008 to 2025 | 0 | None | 69 | 13 |
| 384 | 2007 to 2021 | 0 | None | 66 | 7 |
| 536 | 2020 to 2027 | 0 | None | 47 | 0 |
| 382 | 2006 to 2021 | 0 | None | 29 | 7 |
| 220 | 2015 to 2026 | 0 | None | 23 | 2 |
| 210 | 2008 to 2021 | 0 | None | 19 | 2 |
| 340 | 2006 to 2021 | 0 | None | 19 | 3 |
| 362 | 1981 to 2005 | 0 | None | 19 | 0 |
| 310 | 1982 to 1986 | 0 | None | 18 | 0 |
| 535 | 2021 to 2025 | 0 | None | 14 | 0 |
| 589 | 2024 to 2027 | 0 | None | 13 | 0 |
| 325 | 2008 to 2023 | 0 | None | 10 | 4 |
| 372 | 1988 to 2004 | 0 | None | 7 | 0 |
| 389K | 2008 to 2014 | 0 | None | 6 | 1 |
| PB220 Dual-Steer | 2013 to 2017 | 0 | None | 5 | 0 |
| 352 | 1980 to 1981 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| 375 | 1987 to 1999 | 0 | None | 3 | 0 |
| 376 | 1987 to 1988 | 0 | None | 2 | 0 |
| 201 | 2005 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| 379K | 2007 to 2008 | 0 | None | 1 | 3 |
| 389G | 2016 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| 398 | 2008 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| Class 7 | 2001 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| Class 8 | 2001 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
| MID Ranger | 1987 | 0 | None | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Recall counts add campaigns across model years, so a campaign covering three years counts three times.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns listing a Peterbilt product
- 26V-567 Sep 1, 2026
Front brake valve and hoses may be the incorrect size, which can delay the rear service brake application and release, as well as the trailer…
Brakes · 58 vehicles - 26V-544 Aug 21, 2026
Seat ventilation harness may be missing heat-shrink, resulting in a short circuit
Seats · 811 vehicles - 26V-485 Jul 27, 2026
Power distribution center (PDC) box may be contaminated with oil, which could result in a loss of drive power, Antilock Brake System (ABS)…
Electrical system · 5,925 vehicles - 26V-442 Jul 8, 2026
Trailer air connection quick release (QR) valve in the air brake system may have been incorrectly installed, which can cause the trailer to become…
Brakes · 8 vehicles - 26V-022 Jan 19, 2026
Right-hand stand-up (RHSU) configuration on the steering cross-shaft may become stressed and fail
Steering · 219 vehicles - 25V-795 Nov 17, 2025
Air tanks have an insufficient volume of air for the brake system
Brakes · 62 vehicles - 25V-436 Jun 26, 2025
Tail brake light, upper and lower beam headlights, reverse light, and turn signal may not illuminate as intended
Lighting · 56k vehicles - 25V-353 May 28, 2025
Rear brake piping assembly may have insufficient clearance, which can result in a loss of service brakes or anti-lock brake function
Brakes · 315 vehicles - 25V-182 Mar 24, 2025
Cradle harness may have a loose electrical connection that can cause a loss of drive power
Electrical system · 211 vehicles - 25V-181 Mar 24, 2025
High voltage (HV) contactors may open, causing a sudden loss of high voltage and a loss of drive power
Electrical system · 238 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.