1998 Peterbilt 379 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 40.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Interconnecting Assembly(Wiring) | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Interconnecting Assembly(Wiring): 1; Suspension: 1; Suspension:Front: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 560686 · 2001-04-06 (April 6, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING THE FAULTY FUEL LINE ROUTING AND ENGINE WIRING SPARKED CAUSING A FIRE WITHOUT WARNING PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-029 (EQUIPPED WITH 1998 CATERPILLAR 3406E ENGINES). NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 762038 · 2002-05-18 (May 18, 2002)
OUR 1998 PETERBILT 379 CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE USS POSCO STEEL MILL IN PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA ON THURSDAY 5-16-2002. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR WEB SITE I FOUND A RECALL THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V029000 . NOW OUR TRUCK IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOTALED OUT. HOW DO WE FIND OUT IF THIS IS WHAT CAUSED FIRE. ON OUR ESTIMATE DAMAGES WE HAVE LOSS OF THE OF OUR TRUCK, OUR LIVELY HOOD, AND ANY CLAIMS WHICH USS POSCO MAY MAKE, FOR HAVING TO BE SHUT DOWN. MY HUSBAND IS DEFINITELY TRAMATIZED, HE HAS NOT SLEPT WELL SINCE THIS OCCURED AND WHEN HE DOES HE HAS D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720559 · 2000-03-24 (March 24, 2000)
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH PACCAR FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. MY HUSBANDS TRUCK, LISTED ON THE INCLUDED FORM, WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT BEYOND REPAIR. WE HAVE RECENTLY HIRED A LAYWER TO HELP US IN THIS CASE. THAT IS WHY I DON'T WANT YOU TO NOTIFY PETERBILT . OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED A FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY BRAKE SPRING. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET THE REPORT FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THEY HAVE THE REPORT AND THEY WON'T RELEASE A COPY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720559 at NHTSA ↗