Model year record

2021 PETERBILT 548

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V915000

Electrical system: software

Component
Electrical system: software
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
220,764
Reported to NHTSA
2024-12-09
Owners notified
2025-02-03

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.

Safety risk

Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V190000

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
70,509
Reported to NHTSA
2024-03-20
Owners notified
2025-12-15

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.

Safety risk

A loss of communication between the gear shifter and the transmission may result in the vehicle becoming disabled after coming to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24PBE and 24KWE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V661000

Service brakes, air

Component
Service brakes, air
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
254
Reported to NHTSA
2023-09-29
Owners notified
2024-01-15

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Kenworth T280, T380, 2020-2024 Peterbilt 548, 536, 2024 Peterbilt 537, and 2020-2024 Kenworth T480 trucks. The timing of the trailer brake release may be delayed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Safety risk

A delay in the trailer brake release can create instability to the trailer and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the fittings and hoses in the affected valves, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23KWJ and 23PBJ.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V087000

Service brakes, air

Component
Service brakes, air
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
8,008
Reported to NHTSA
2023-02-15
Owners notified
2023-04-06

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Kenworth T280, T380, T480, Peterbilt 536, 537, and 548 vehicles. When the brake pedal is fully applied and then released rapidly, the pedal plunger that connects the brake pedal to the brake valve may become disconnected, causing the service brakes to fail.

Safety risk

Service brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will add a pedal restraint bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-588 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23KWB and 23PBB.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V601000

Fuel system, diesel: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, diesel: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
688
Reported to NHTSA
2021-08-03
Owners notified
2021-07-30

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 537, 548 and Kenworth T270, T280, T370, T380, T440, T470, and T480 vehicles equipped with Cummins L9 diesel engines. A fuel leak may occur from the fuel hose between the fuel pump and the remote fuel filter head.

Safety risk

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Cummins will replace the fuel hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in October 2021. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) and 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21PBG and 21KWF.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.