The 2005 Peterbilt 379 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 32,770 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT13V5930002013-11-25561 affected
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…
Consequence
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, AIR08V0990002008-03-04130 affected
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.
Consequence
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, AIR07V0440002007-02-1218 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.
Consequence
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.
EQUIPMENT06V2510002006-07-1340 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, WHEN USING A CUMMINS ELECTRONIC ICON SERVICE TOOL 2.2, AN UNINTENDED ENGINE START WILL OCCUR.
Consequence
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 COOLING05V5700002005-12-2230,995 affected
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.
Consequence
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.
SUSPENSION05V1890002005-04-281,026 affected
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…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
1
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
1
1fires
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
1
TIRES
1
Total complaints7
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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”
“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”
“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…”
“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”
“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…”
“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.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Peterbilt 379 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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