The 1999 Peterbilt 379 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 66,125 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION03V1250002003-04-01154 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.
Consequence
SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FRONT AXLE HUBS. NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2003. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ADVISED US THAT PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITH A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD…
STEERING02V0370032002-07-154,513 affected
Defect
HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN ARVINMERITOR AND DANA AXLES. PETERBILT WILL RECALL 1,434 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 1999, TO MAY 14, 2000, AND FROM JULY 22 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. KENWORTH WILL RECALL 859 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR…
Consequence
THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT…
STEERING01V1400062001-08-282,294 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.
Consequence
THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. A CHANGE IN THE INTERNAL LINKAGE OF CERTAIN CAB DOORS HAS CREATED A POSSIBLE BINDING CONDITION.
Consequence
IF THE LINKAGE BINDS, FULL ENGAGEMENT OF THE DOOR LATCH MAY NOT OCCUR, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN INADVERTENTLY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE DOOR LINKAGE TO CORRECT THE POTENTIAL OF BINDING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4000.
STEERING01V0440052001-03-016,392 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. THE SUSPECT TIE RODS CONTAIN 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.
Consequence
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2001, TO KENWORTH OWNERS AND ON APRIL 25, 2001, TO PETERBILT OWNERS. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM99V1810011999-07-09272 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES AND EATON AUTOSHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. THE ENGINES CAN STALL BECAUSE OF SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.
Consequence
INCREASED STEERING EFFORT CAN OCCUR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL UPDATE THESE ENGINES WITH SOFTWARE CHANGES. CATERPILLAR IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THIS RECALL.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
STEERING
1
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The crankshaft broke when slowing for a scale house, leaving the truck disabled. The truck was towed to a shop. The cluch and transmission input shaft had to be replaced. *jb”
“The crankshaft broke when slowing for a scale house, leaving the truck disabled. The truck was towed to a shop. The cluch and transmission input shaft had to be replaced. *jb”
“Vehicle fire ignited in engine compartment.*mr while driving the driver noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The driver pulled the vehicle over and drifted about 1/2 mile with the engine off. The consumer exited the vehicle and saw flames under the engine area. The driver retrieved a…”
“I own a 1999 peterbilt 379 with less than 700,000 miles. Today I had to replace a fuel tank strap that broke. Based on the age of the truck, it appears to me that it is a little premature to be replacing a strap, especially on something as critical as a fuel tank. I have also read there is a…”
“Fault in fuel line equalizing and if you fill your fuel tanks the fuel ends up returning into one tank and the tank over flows. This causes two problems the first is creating an environmental hazard the second is a safty problem making the roadway slippery worst than driving on ice.*ak”
“There is an inch of dead play in the steering wheel. Consumer has to turn the steering wheel an ich one way to get it to start turning in the opposite direction. This causes no control of the vehicle when driving at high speed. The dealer has been contacted. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Peterbilt 379 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.