2015 Peterbilt 579: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 PETERBILT 579. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE WAS ON FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND BOTH FRONT AXLES CAUG…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10689686 at NHTSA ↗

LEAKING FITTINGS ON TRANSMISSION COOLER CAUSED FLUID TO RUN OUT AND SEIZED TRANSMISSION, WHILE DRIVER WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, DUE TO BAD INSTALLATION AT FACTORY. UPON INSPECTION FOUND 3 OUT OF 5 TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEM. WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS DENIED BY EATON AND PETERBILT CLAIMING DRIVER ERROR.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839909 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF, FORCING HIM TO SIDE OF ROAD, HAD TO GET TOWED DUE TO FACT THAT COULD NOT REPAIR. AT DEALER I AM TOLD FUEL PUMP LEAKED INTO ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND ECM. CAUSING TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT START.

Owner-reported narrative. 273,465 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034567 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK ON 4/09/21 AND ON 4/13/21 WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT THE YARD IT CUT ON FIRE BY ITSELF, NO EXTERNAL CAUSE OTHER THAN SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK THAT WE WERE NOT TOLD OR AWARE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE SOME DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM MANUFACTURE THAT HAVE 3 RECALLS THAT CAUSE FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND FIND OUT THE OFFICIAL CAUSE. WE LOST OUR RETIREMENT FUNDS AND NOW NOBODY WANTS TO BE RESPONSABLE FOR. A WITNESS RECORDED A VIDEO AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHERE THE FIRE WAS COMING

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11408294 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-05-29 (May 29, 2014)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Peterbilt 579, 388, 384, 367, 365, 348, and 337 trucks manufactured October 30, 2009, through May 21, 2014. In the affected vehicles, if power is interrupted to the seat electronic control unit (ECU), such as when the fuse for that circuit blows, the side air bag would be disabled but there will not be a warning lamp indicator to notify the operator of the malfunction.

Consequence: Without a warning of a problem existing in the side air bag system, the driver may continue to operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury from the side air bag not deploying in the event of a rollover.

Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install a new electrical harness to correct them problem, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. Paccar's number for this recall is 514-F.

Reported: 2014-12-29 (December 29, 2014)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2015 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured from May 23, 2014, to February 13, 2015, and 2015 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks manufactured from May 23, 2014, to February 13, 2015, equipped with certain air brake actuators. The affected vehicles may experience brake drag due to an improperly seated diaphragm in the brake chamber.

Consequence: Brake drag may result in a wheel end fire.

Remedy: Kenworth and Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the brake chamber, as necessary, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners March 3, 2015. The recall began on May 14, 2015. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5000 (Kenworth), or 1-940-591-4000 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 14KWP (Kenworth), and 1214L (Peterbilt).

Reported: 2015-03-06 (March 6, 2015)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2006-2016 Peterbilt 587, 579, 567, 389, 388, 387, 385, 382, 379, 378, 367, 365 and 357 trucks manufactured July 25, 2005, to February 26, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with Tire and Rim Certification Labels that list a tire pressure below the actual correct amount. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, "Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds)."

Consequence: If the tires are underinflated due to the incorrect inflation pressure listed on the label, the truck may not be able to carry the maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) load listed without experiencing tire failure which would increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners and mail them a corrected Tire and Rim certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-D.

Reported: 2015-05-08 (May 8, 2015)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.

Consequence: If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 15KWE and 515-F.

Reported: 2015-07-22 (July 22, 2015)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.

Consequence: If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 715-K.

Reported: 2017-07-25 (July 25, 2017)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Peterbilt 567 and 579 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks equipped with optional spotlights. The spotlight circuit may not be adequately protected in the event of a short.

Consequence: A short in the spotlight circuitry may increase the risk of a fire at the cab fuse block.

Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will change the polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit to a standard fuse, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 17KWC and 717-B.

Reported: 2018-11-16 (November 16, 2018)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, greater than 30 feet long and equipped with side extender mounted intermediate marker lamp/turn signals that do not include a reflex reflector. Since both intermediate side marker lamps and reflex reflectors are required, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Missing reflex reflectors can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will install reflex reflective tape, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWF, and 18PBC.

Reported: 2020-03-04 (March 4, 2020)

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.

Reported: 2020-04-06 (April 6, 2020)

PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."

Consequence: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.