Model year record

2021 PETERBILT 579

9 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1 owner complaint 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 23V653000

Fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
1,315
Reported to NHTSA
2023-09-27
Owners notified
2023-11-03

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 579 and 567 trucks. The U-bolts that attach the air tank to the chassis may contact the fuel tank and over time, wear a hole in the tank.

Safety risk

A punctured fuel tank can leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and trim the U-bolts, and replace the fuel tank as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 23PBH.

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V423000

Electrical system

Component
Electrical system
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
4,967
Reported to NHTSA
2023-06-13
Owners notified
2023-07-13

Defect description

PACCAR, Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Peterbilt 579 vehicles equipped with MX-13 engines and 160-amp alternators. A fastener on the front spring bracket may have been installed with the head on the outside of the frame rail, which can chafe and damage the alternator positive cable.

Safety risk

A damaged alternator cable increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the frame fastener and secure the alternator cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 23PBD.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V00N000

Electrical system: wiring

Component
Electrical system: wiring
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
1,107
Reported to NHTSA
2021-12-29
Owners notified
2022-12-01

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V906000

Electrical system: software

Component
Electrical system: software
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
908
Reported to NHTSA
2021-11-19
Owners notified
2022-01-03

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V648000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
163
Reported to NHTSA
2021-08-19
Owners notified
2022-03-11

Defect description

PACCAR, Inc. (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles. The cross member mounted Hill Start Assist valve assembly may have insufficient clearance to the rear axle, causing damage to the rear brake hose and loss of the rear brake signal.

Safety risk

If loss of the rear brake signal occurs, the vehicle could experience reduced rear braking capability or loss of brakes to the rear axle(s), increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect for clearance and re-work the assembly to conform with an updated design, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 24, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 11, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 21PBJ.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V328000

Service brakes, air: disc: chamber

Component
Service brakes, air: disc: chamber
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
13
Reported to NHTSA
2021-05-10
Owners notified
2021-07-09

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021 Peterbilt 348 and 579 vehicles. The spring brake chamber may have been assembled with incorrect springs that were out of specification, which may cause the pressure plate to shift.

Safety risk

The pressure plate may tear the diaphragm, causing a loss of air pressure and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace brake chambers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 9, 2021. Owners may contact PACCAR (Peterbilt) customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 21PBE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V080000

Engine

Component
Engine
Manufacturer
PACCAR Incorporated
Vehicles affected
132
Reported to NHTSA
2021-02-17
Owners notified
2021-03-29

Defect description

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Kenworth T680, T880, W990, T800, W900 and Peterbilt 579, 567, 389, 367 vehicles equipped with a Cummins X15 engine. The capscrews that attach the flywheel to the crankshaft may have been improperly torqued, allowing the flywheel to detach.

Safety risk

A detached flywheel can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, driveline pieces may be ejected from the engine compartment, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will properly torque the capscrews and the engine will also be inspected for damage and, if necessary, repaired, free of charge. The recall began on March 29, 2021. 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 21KWA and 21PBB.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system1

The 2020 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. The 2022 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

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.