2005 Peterbilt 379

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, diesel › storage › tank assembly. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires1
000
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft1
000
Power Train › Axle Assembly1
010
Fuel System, Diesel › Storage › Tank Assembly1
000
Fuel System, Diesel1
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel1
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Other › Labels13V593000
Filed Nov 25, 2013561 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain 2004-2013 Peterbilt 379, 357, 378, 367, 388, 365, 389, 385 and 386 trucks manufactured from April 3, 2003, through October 25, 2013 and equipped with tri-drive rear axles and a tag or pusher axle. The affected vehicles may be missing required information from the certification label, specifically the tag or pusher axle the gross axle weight rating, suitable tire and rim information, and recommended tire pressure information. Without this information, the vehicles do not comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification."

Risk. As a result, the axles may be overloaded or the wrong tires could be installed or the tires could be improperly inflated. All of these issues increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Peterbilt will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the certification labels missing the necessary information. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers can contact Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 1113-F.

Service Brakes, Air › Slack Adjusters08V099000
Filed Mar 4, 2008130 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR IS RECALLING 130 MY 2005-2007 KENWORTH C500, T800, W900, AND PETERBILT MODELS 357 AND 379 TRACTOR TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH FABCO SLACK ADJUSTERS ON SISU AXLES. THE SLACK ADJUSTERS MAY FAIL AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE CRACK RENDERING THE SLACK ADJUSTER INOPERATIVE. THIS COULD REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.

Risk. REDUCTION IN BRAKING CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Service Brakes, Air07V044000
Filed Feb 12, 200718 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.

Risk. THE ABSENCE OF THIS AIR HOSE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHILE A TRAILER IS BEING PULLED, RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. PETERBILT WILL INSPECT THE AIR HOSE PLUMBING OF THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Equipment06V251000
Filed Jul 13, 200640 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, WHEN USING A CUMMINS ELECTRONIC ICON SERVICE TOOL 2.2, AN UNINTENDED ENGINE START WILL OCCUR.

Risk. GIVEN THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS SERVICE TOOL, THIS SERIES OF EVENTS WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN A SERVICE FACILITY AND COULD POSE A HAZARD IF THE TRUCK WERE TO UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE OR THE ENGINE TO START WITHOUT ANY WARNING, POSSIBLY CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. CUMMINS IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06E063000) AND WILL REPLACE THE ICON SERVICE TOOL 2.2 WITH A NEW ICON SERVICE TOOL 2.3 FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.

Engine and Engine Cooling05V570000
Filed Dec 22, 200530,995 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Risk. THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy. CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PACCAR, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440, OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Suspension05V189000
Filed Apr 28, 20051,026 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY CLASS 8 TRUCKS, THE SUSPENSION HAS TRANSVERSE BEAM CASTINGS THAT MAY FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL LOADS. IF A CASTING BREAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON A ROADWAY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR PIECES OF THE CASTING TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND THE SUSPENSION'S TRANSVERSE BEAM MAY DROP DOWN LOW ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE SPARKS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 10, 2005, WITH LETTERS BEING MAILED TO PETERBILT OWNERS; AND ON JUNE 17, 2005, FOR KENWORTH OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › DieselFire
Filed Jun 29, 2011OH

2005 PETERBILT 379, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN HIS TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT HOOD NEAR THE ENGINE. UNIT 1 THEN DROVE TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SHOULDER WHERE HE PUT THE FIRE OUT. *BF OIL LEAKED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0302-90)*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Feb 17, 2011200,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PETERBILT CONVENTIONAL 379. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAN HUB WAS FRACTURED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS EARLIER, THE FAN HUB WAS REPLACED BUT BECAME FRACTURED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 490,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Tires
Filed Jul 26, 2010FL

2005 PETERBUILT 379, UNIT 2 HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE TRAILER. DEBRIS FROM THE FAILURE STRUCK UNIT 1 CAUSING DAMAGE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0359-91)*JB UPDATED 08/06/10 *BF

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Mar 22, 2010IN

2005 PETERBILT 379 CONVENTIONAL, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE FROM TRUCK ONTO THE ROADWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK IT. *BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0279-90 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF

Fuel System, DieselFire
Filed Jan 28, 2010350,000 milesOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PETERBILT 379 TRACTOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE DISPLAYED FLUCTUATED READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN MASSIVE FLAMES. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

Power Train › Axle AssemblyFire
Filed Jun 17, 2008IN

2005 PETERBILT 379 CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER HEARD A HISSING NOISE AND PULLED OVER AND NOTICE THE TIRES WERE ON FIRE. *NJ THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVE AXLES. OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0196-89 UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF

Fuel System, Diesel › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Apr 18, 2006101,000 milesKS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20160100Routine
20150100Routine
20140100Routine
20130200Routine
20120200Routine
20110200Routine
20100200Routine
20090500Routine
20080900Routine
20076921Fatalities reported
20062700Routine
2005 — this page7630Routine
20041400Routine
20033500Routine
20020200Routine
20016400Routine
200012610Routine
19995610Routine
19986240Routine
19974000Routine
19962100Routine
19953010Routine
19941000Routine
19921010Routine
19911000Routine

Compare every 379 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 25, 2013. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.