The Used Car Index

2020 Peterbilt 579 problems

NHTSA lists 4 complaints for the 2020 Peterbilt 579, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as PETERBILT 579.

At a glance

Complaints
4
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
6
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
35,671
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
104

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM125.0%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)125.0%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE125.0%
POWER TRAIN125.0%
SERVICE BRAKES125.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT PANEL1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
mechanical failure250.0%0.98
electrical electronic125.0%0.70
unclear125.0%0.97
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate250.0%0.76
low125.0%0.78
none125.0%0.72

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 4 tagged complaints of 4 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

6 recalls.

22V277000

Date: 2022-04-25. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T880, T800, W900, W990; and 2018-2020 Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567, and 579 vehicles. The Dana D-Series axle steer arm fasteners that attach the steering arm to the steering knuckle may fail.

Consequence: Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace and torque the steer arm fasteners, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22 PBB and 22 KWB.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V00N000

Date: 2021-12-29. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V906000

Date: 2021-11-19. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Kenworth T880, W990, Peterbilt 567, 579, 389, and 2022 Peterbilt 536, 537 wrecker and auto hauler vehicles. The work brake (winch brake) may unintentionally disengage the service brakes during winching operations, causing the vehicle to roll.

Consequence: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWG and 21PBM.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

20V130000

Date: 2020-03-04. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

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.

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V733000

Date: 2019-10-15. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Peterbilt 579 vehicles equipped with a sleeper box. The conspicuity tape may have been installed in the incorrect location, affecting the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and (excerpt)

Consequence: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install additional conspicuity tape on back of sleeper in correct location, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 19PBE. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V340000

Date: 2019-05-01. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Peterbilt 520 and 579 vehicles and Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 vehicles. The mirror glass may detach from the mirror carrier plate due to inadequate adhesion.

Consequence: If the mirror glass detaches, the driver may have reduced visibility and the mirror glass will become a road hazard that may strike another vehicle or pedestrian, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: PACCAR has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the upper mirror glass/mirror carrier, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Kenworth owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt owners may call 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 19KWC and 19PBC.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

104 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29
EQUIPMENT21
ENGINE18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING17
POWER TRAIN13
STRUCTURE12
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY8
VISIBILITY5

11037541

Date: 2026-09-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

"Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. Peterbilt: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."

11037451

Date: 2026-09-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

An exhaust manifold slip joint seal kit is now available for EPA 2017-2024 PACCAR MX-13 engines.

11036289

Date: 2026-08-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

The procedure has been updated to include additional steps for verifying the software level on the vehicle electronic control unit (VECU2) and digital display (DD). Steps have also been added to the PACCAR Common Rail Injection 2 (PCI2) software verification.

11035343

Date: 2026-07-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

105 chassis have been removed from the chassis list and unflagged in PRWS due to expiration of applicable warranty coverage. Total chassis population is 732.

11035202

Date: 2026-07-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

This optional software update is now available for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023 PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines. This update provides customers with additional time to service their trucks before a DEF-related derate occurs. The software is being offered to customers in alignment with recentl

11035149

Date: 2026-07-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Incorrect air filters may be inadvertently installed in certain chassis equipped with under-hood Donaldson air filter housings.

11035111

Date: 2026-07-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

The Condition, Chassis Affected, Service Action, Warranty, and Procedure sections have been updated to include the latest prognostics bulletin verbiage.

11035108

Date: 2026-07-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

"The software is not yet available. The bulletin will be updated when more information is available."

11034394

Date: 2026-06-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

"An optional software update will be available on 07/06/2026 for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines. This update provides customers with additional time to service theirtrucks before a DEF-related derate occurs. The software is being offered to customers in alignment

11033351

Date: 2026-05-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Troubleshooting procedures for 2.1m cab power windows are now available.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
5794

Same model, other years

All model years | All Peterbilt models

Other Peterbilt models, 2020

Sources

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