2016 Peterbilt 579

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 11 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train2
000
Electrical System1
000

11 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring21V00N000
Filed Dec 29, 20211,107 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles. The methane detection system will not function if the system loses power.

Risk. The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.

Remedy. Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220, and Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWH and 21PBN.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)20V199000
Filed Apr 6, 2020460,515 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."

Risk. If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables20V130000
Filed Mar 4, 202035,671 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles equipped with a left-hand under hood jumper terminal (option code 2539410). The positive battery jumper terminal cable may be too long, allowing it to chafe against the left front suspension spring and result in an electrical short circuit.

Risk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20PBA.

Exterior Lighting18V816000
Filed Nov 16, 20181,619 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, greater than 30 feet long and equipped with side extender mounted intermediate marker lamp/turn signals that do not include a reflex reflector. Since both intermediate side marker lamps and reflex reflectors are required, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk. Missing reflex reflectors can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will install reflex reflective tape, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWF, and 18PBC.

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly17V593000
Filed Sep 22, 201717,737 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016 Peterbilt 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 389, 389G, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and Kenworth K170, T170, T270, T370, T440, T470,T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks equipped with certain Spicer D or E series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.

Risk. If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000 or Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is P817-C.

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers17V471000
Filed Jul 25, 20175,731 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Peterbilt 567 and 579 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks equipped with optional spotlights. The spotlight circuit may not be adequately protected in the event of a short.

Risk. A short in the spotlight circuitry may increase the risk of a fire at the cab fuse block.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will change the polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit to a standard fuse, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 17KWC and 717-B.

Power Train › Manual Transmission15V639000
Filed Oct 9, 201527 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. Paccar (Paccar Incorporated) is recalling certain 2016 Kenworth T680, T800, and T880 trucks manufactured January 5, 2015, to January 7, 2015 and 2016 Peterbilt 367, 384, 567, and 579 trucks manufactured January 2, 2015, to January 9, 2015 and equipped with Eaton Fuller FR 10-speed manual transmissions. In the affected vehicles, when the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to neutral, the reverse gear may stay engaged. When the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to a forward gear position, the transmission may mechanically lock because both the reverse gear and forward gear are simultaneously engaged.

Risk. Even though the transmission has been shifted out of reverse into neutral, the vehicle may unexpectedly move backwards, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Paccar will notify the owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the affected transmissions if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Paccar's numbers for this recall are 15KWM (Kenworth) and 1015N (Peterbilt).

Electrical System › Ignition › Module15V597000
Filed Sep 24, 2015354 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 12, 2015, and 2016 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured August 4, 2015, to August 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.

Risk. An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Paccar's numbers for this recall are 15KWM (Kenworth) and 915-L (Peterbilt).

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator15V456000
Filed Jul 22, 2015288 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.

Risk. If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 715-K.

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator15V270000
Filed May 8, 20151,494 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.

Risk. If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 15KWE and 515-F.

Showing 10 of 11 campaigns, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Dec 27, 2021PA

The window switch that operates the window goes bad on every single one of these trucks . the switch controls windows , door locks dome light and mirror heat. the switch is unavailable to buy as a part , the part is on national backorder with no estimated time . the window does not go up or down . the window needs to work in order for the vehicle to pass safety inspection . this makes it safety issue .

Power Train
Filed Jul 8, 201640,000 milesWI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PETERBILT 579. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED AND THE STEERING COLUMN RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY ONTO THE CONTACT'S LAP. THE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS ADJUSTED AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS PLACED BACK INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/28/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE LOCKING CAM AND SPRING. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED TO EASILY WHEN BUMPED. *JS

Power Train
Filed Jul 5, 201680 milesOK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PETERBILT 579. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE GOING BACK INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80.

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2022
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270300Routine
20261200Routine
20250700Do not drive
20243700Routine
202331100Routine
202271500Routine
20211900Routine
20204600Routine
20193800Routine
201871420Routine
201731320Routine
2016 — this page31100Routine
20154920Routine
201421200Routine
201311300Routine
20120600Routine
20110400Routine
20100300Routine
20090200Routine
20080200Routine
20070100Routine
20060100Routine

Compare every 579 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: Dec 29, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.