Model line

Peterbilt 520

Every Peterbilt 520 model year on file, 1990 to 2026. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years40 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years371990 to 2026
Recall campaigns24Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins744Summed across model years
By model year

The 2020 model year drew the most complaints, 3, 75% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

012319901993199619992002200520082011201420172020320232026
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Brakes leads the Peterbilt 520 complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Brakes
4
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each Peterbilt 520 model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Peterbilt 520 by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2026Not decoded0NoneNone2029
2025Not decoded0NoneNone7061
2024Not decoded0NoneNone8054
2023Not decoded0NoneNone5049
2022Not decoded0NoneNone4047
2021Not decoded0NoneNone6056
2020Truck30.030012051
2019Truck10.01008142
2018Not decoded0NoneNone8148
2017Not decoded0NoneNone5144
2016Not decoded0NoneNone4026
2015Not decoded0NoneNone3025
2014Not decoded0NoneNone1020
2013Not decoded0NoneNone1016
2012Not decoded0NoneNone1016
2011Not decoded0NoneNone1016
2010Not decoded0NoneNone1013
2009Not decoded0NoneNone1012
2008Not decoded0NoneNone1012
2007Not decoded0NoneNone1011
2006Not decoded0NoneNone1010
2005Not decoded0NoneNone1010
2004Not decoded0NoneNone1010
2003Not decoded0NoneNone109
2002Not decoded0NoneNone108
2001Not decoded0NoneNone107
2000Not decoded0NoneNone107
1999Not decoded0NoneNone107
1998Not decoded0NoneNone107
1997Not decoded0NoneNone107
1996Not decoded0NoneNone106
1995Not decoded0NoneNone103
1994Not decoded0NoneNone101
1993Not decoded0NoneNone101
1992Not decoded0NoneNone101
1991Not decoded0NoneNone101
1990Not decoded0NoneNone101
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Peterbilt 520

  • 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-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-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
  • 24V-915 Dec 9, 2024
    Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning
    Electrical system · 221k vehicles
  • 24V-908 Dec 3, 2024
    Steering arm and/or tie rod bracket fasteners may fail, resulting in a loss of steering control
    Steering · 68 vehicles
  • 24V-433 Jun 12, 2024
    Tie rod or drag link assembly may contain an improperly heat-treated ball stud, causing the ball stud to break
    Steering · 7,410 vehicles
  • 24V-044 Jan 25, 2024
    Steering gear assemblies may have been assembled incorrectly with fewer recirculating balls than are required, which may result in a loss of…
    Steering · 46k vehicles
  • 24V-043 Jan 25, 2024
    Bearing journals may not be fully seated in the steering knuckle assemblies, preventing the proper installation of the wheel end hub assemblies
    Steering · 68 vehicles
  • 23V-749 Nov 7, 2023
    Rear lifting bracket that attaches to the engine cylinder head may be insufficiently secured, which can allow it to detach
    Engine and cooling · 9 vehicles
  • 22V-939 Dec 16, 2022
    Suspension tracking rod brackets may fail and detach from the forward drive axle, causing the axle to become unstable
    Suspension · 16k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.