NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Peterbilt 379 Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Peterbilt 379 has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Peterbilt dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Peterbilt 379. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1997 Peterbilt 379 owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Peterbilt 379, describing incidents dated November 24, 1998 to May 23, 2014.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Equipment 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 4 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10593894 · Filed May 24, 2014
BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD WHILE IN PARK, BODY BUSHINGS AND SUPPORT IS WORN AND RUSTED. FUEL HAD LACK OF POWER AND EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL AND WOULD NOT START WITH OUT STARTING FLUID AND WAS THE COLOR OF OFF ROAD DIESEL. *TR
ODI #10018680 · Filed May 14, 2003
IN REFERENCE TO MY PRIOR COMPLAINT REF. #10004102. TO WHICH YOU REPLIED NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BECAUSE THERE ARE "NO OTHER REPORT SIMILAR TO" MINE. IT APPEARS THAT THE DOT AND DOE DON'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. THE DOE HAS HAD THREE SIMILAR FAILURES OF FONTAINE 5TH-WHEELS…
ODI #832357 · Filed December 16, 1998
WHEEL SEALS & BEARINGS WENT OUT. HAD BEARINGS & SEALS REPLACED & THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. ALSO WHEEL HUB AND SPINDLE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

Read all 4 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 Peterbilt 379 as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Peterbilt 379. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Peterbilt 379.

Structure; Service Brakes; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10593894

Incident: May 23, 2014 · Filed: May 24, 2014

BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD WHILE IN PARK, BODY BUSHINGS AND SUPPORT IS WORN AND RUSTED. FUEL HAD LACK OF POWER AND EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL AND WOULD NOT START WITH OUT STARTING FLUID AND WAS THE COLOR OF OFF ROAD DIESEL. *TR

Equipment; Unknown or Other

ODI #10018680

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 23, 2002 · Filed: May 14, 2003

IN REFERENCE TO MY PRIOR COMPLAINT REF. #10004102. TO WHICH YOU REPLIED NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BECAUSE THERE ARE "NO OTHER REPORT SIMILAR TO" MINE. IT APPEARS THAT THE DOT AND DOE DON'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. THE DOE HAS HAD THREE SIMILAR FAILURES OF FONTAINE 5TH-WHEELS. HTTP://WWW.HANFORD.GOV/LESSONS/SITELL/LL01/2001-47.HTM PROJECT HANFORD LESSONS LEARNED. TITLE: TRACTOR-TRAILER FIFTH WHEEL DETACHMENTS. DATE: DECEMBER 17, 2001, IDENTIFIER: 2001-RL-HNF-0047. *NLM

Steering; Power Train; Wheels

ODI #832357

Incident: November 24, 1998 · Filed: December 16, 1998

WHEEL SEALS & BEARINGS WENT OUT. HAD BEARINGS & SEALS REPLACED & THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. ALSO WHEEL HUB AND SPINDLE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #559857

Filed: February 22, 2001

LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE CAUSING TANK TO HANG FROM THE TRUCK, STRAP HAD HAIRLINE CRACK ON INNER SIDE BELOW WELD, THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE FUEL LEAKAGE, DEALER CLAIMS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *MJS

Other Peterbilt 379 model years

Check your 1997 Peterbilt 379 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Peterbilt 379 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Peterbilt VIN