- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.
- The fix
- 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.
Electrical system
2018 Peterbilt 579 Electrical problems
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2018 Peterbilt 579's electrical system with NHTSA - 50% of all its complaints, most recently on November 8, 2024. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Electrical recalls for the 2018 Peterbilt 579
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks, and Peterbilt 567 and 579 trucks, all equipped with an automated Eaton UltraShift Plus or Eaton Advantage Transmission with right hand stalk shifter. The display that indicates which transmission gear the driver selected may display incorrectly. The display can indicate 'N' when the shifter is set into 'D' or 'R', and the as a result, the truck will not move. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/Transmission Braking Effect," and number 101, "Control and Displays."
- The risk
- A truck that does not move as expected can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install a transmission software update, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 18KWA and 118-A.
Electrical complaints
This vehicle about 6-8 weeks ago started throwing codes for all systems above (over 100 codes). This issue affected all systems of the vehicle including but not limited to the speed and braking of the vehicle, plus the fuel system and adaptive driving systems. We took it to the dealer Performance Peterbilt in Tifton, GA. They cleared the codes and said they resolved it by replacing a NOX sensor. We left the repair shop and within 50-100 miles the exact same issue started up again. We took it back to the same shop,...
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they worked with Paccar and determined it needed a new ECM (Computer), this was changed out and still did not resolve issue. They then changed out the main wire harness. This resolved some issues but not all issues. Now the repair dealer is stating it needs a dash wire harness. This vehicle has relatively low miles 500K and has only been serviced by Peterbilt dealers through it's life. This issue causes the vehicle to accelerate and brake randomly plus many other issues by stopping power in hauling. We have another IDENTICAL vehicle which is now doing the same thing but have not brought it into the shop yet until manufacturer can get this 1st truck fixed properly to ensure safety.
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 peterbilt 579. The contact stated that while the driver was driving, the rear brakes and turn signals failed to function. The next day the running lights on the drivers side failed, the passenger side of the turn signal and brake also failed to function. The contact stated that the main electrical harness coming out of the main computer and running the entire span underneath the cab had little to no protective sheathing/ cord wrap/ aluminum wrap protecting the wires. The harness was...
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routed through a u-bolt type flange as well as hangs near several metal parts that, while in motion, rub against the wire causing them to fray. As a result, several items began to short out and also caused numerous wires to heat up and melt. It was discovered that the running light brake lights intern signals began to fail. The harness could cause fraying and a potential fire as well as several modules to fail. The contact called northern ohio peterbilt dealer, (1330 w trenton ave, findlay, oh 45840, (419) 423-3441) and was informed that the vehicle was over the one year hundred thousand miles for the warranty and did not assist. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,375.
The main electrical harness coming out of the main computer and running the entire span underneath the cab had little to no protective sheathing/cord wrap/aluminum wrap protecting the wires. The harness is routed through a u-bolt type flange as well as hangs near several metal parts that, while in motion, rub against the wires causing them to fray. This in turn caused several items to begin to short out and also caused numerous wires to heat up and melt. It was discovered when the drivers side headlight failed and...
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the same side running lights came on and stayed on. This also caused the washer fluid pump to turn on and run constantly, heating it to the point of scalding to the touch. Not having any type of protective wrap around the harness could cause fraying and a potential fire as well as several modules to fail as it did in this case. *Dt consumer stated peterbilt warranty(1 year/100,000 miles) was not covered under warranty.*Jb
Peterbilt 579 electrical complaints by year
579 electrical problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data