On some peterbilt trucks, certain parts used in the air suspensions have a high copper content causing premature failure.
Suspension
Peterbilt 379 Suspension problems by year
7 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Peterbilt 379's suspension. Broken springs, struts, control arms, ball joints, noises and alignment that won't hold.
Suspension complaints by model year
Suspension recalls
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...
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.
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with chalmers 1000 series and 800 series suspension kits. These suspension kits may have insufficient penetration of the weld attaching the torque rod eye to the torque rod tube.
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with design level 1, rockwell ff980 series front axle. The front axle hub flange can develop cracks due to high stress levels.
Latest 379 suspension complaints
2000 Peterbilt 379 utility trailer wheel bearing caught on fire. *Bf (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0205-89)*jb updated 08/05/10 *bf updated 9/1/10 *cn the consumer stated the bearings went dry and started a grease fire, not the tires. Updated 09/1/410
There was no accident involved with this complaint. This is regarding peterbilts recall #303-a I have a 1998 379 that was purchased 10/5/01 since then I have replaced the hub bearings on the steer axle once on the drivers side and three times on the passenger side. After the third time on the passenger side I replaced everything ( spindle,hub,and drum ) according to peterbilt my truck does not fall into their recall. I believe it does and is a manufacturer defect because after replacing the forementioned parts it seems to have solved the problem. *Tr
Vehicle would wander when driving 60-65 mph, vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, and roblem still occurring. Feel free to provide any further information.*Ak
Front wheel bearings have required tightening numerous times. The left and right side bearings have been replaced due to spindles. *Jg
Vehicle is leaning too much to the left. Vehicle has been to the dealer and several independent repair shops, and no one can correct the problem, asking nhtsa to assist on this issue.*Ak. Several mechanic discovered that the steer tires were worn, the steer axle wheel bearing was broken and the right steer axle kinpin had excessive play, the vehicle was aligned, the clutch was adjusted, the steering was tight, and the steering gear box was replaced.*Jb
Vehicle vibrates excessively at high speeds of 55 to 65mph. Dealer has seen vehicle 2 times, and problem still exists. *Ak
I've had the truck in the shop four times to fix the same problem an is still not fixed.At the time it was very dangrous the problum is a little bit fixed but , I went in there to buy a new truck an I got a truck that leans to right tires going bad I've put two set's of stearing tires on been in front end shop about seven times tires still going bad , an all sort's of other thing's as well. An this is a new 98.000.00 Dollar truck I bought , an I can't find anybody to help me. *Ak
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data