NHTSA vehicle safety data
2003 Peterbilt 379 Recalls & Complaints
The 2003 Peterbilt 379 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 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 2003 Peterbilt 379. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2003 Peterbilt 379 owner complaints
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Peterbilt 379, describing incidents dated August 9, 2002 to January 20, 2004.
Most-cited components
- Engine 1 complaint
- Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
- Wheels 1 complaint
Newest complaints
ODI #10124044 · Filed
I BOUGHT A 2003 PETERBILT 379 TRUCK WITH A SPLIT TANK IN NOVEMBER 2002. SINCE BRAND NEW THE TRUCK NEVER RAN RIGHT, EVEN THE OIL SAMPLES PERFORMED ON THE TRUCK SHOWED SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. I TOOK IT BACK MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE DEALERSHIP SENT ME TO THE…
ODI #10017732 · Filed
WHEN ENGAGED THE VEHICLE RAN FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-30 SECONDS THEN STALLED. THE CONSUMER THEN HAD TO MANUALLY UTILIZE THE "HAND PRIMER VALVE" IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT SINCE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING EQUIPMENT DID NOT SHOWING ANY ISSUES, PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST. THE MOTOR…
ODI #8016453 · Filed
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY SAW GREASE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE ASSEMBLY
NHTSA #07V044000 · Service Brakes, Air · NHTSA notice
Reported February 12, 2007 · PACCAR INCORPORATED
Potentially affected: 18 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 107B · Owners notified February 22, 2007 · Vehicles built December 17, 2003 – October 2, 2006 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.
Safety consequence
THE ABSENCE OF THIS AIR HOSE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHILE A TRAILER IS BEING PULLED, RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
PETERBILT WILL INSPECT THE AIR HOSE PLUMBING OF THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.
Notes
PETERBILT RECALL NO. 107B.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
PACCAR/STEER AXLE ASSEMBLIES
NHTSA #03V410000 · Steering — Linkages — Knuckle — Spindle — Arm · NHTSA notice
Reported October 20, 2003 · PACCAR INCORPORATED
Potentially affected: 1,187 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 1003G/03KWA · Owners notified January 5, 2004 · Vehicles built July 31, 2003 – October 8, 2003 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA SPICER INTEGRAL KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES, THE STEER AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A LONGITUDINAL CRACK IN THE STEER ARM.
Safety consequence
IF THE CRACK SHOULD PROPAGATE OVER TIME, THE BALL COULD BECOME LOOSE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.
Notes
KENWORTH RECALL NO. 03KWA\PETERBILT RECALL NO. 1003G.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
PACCAR/PETERBILT/BRAKES/STEERING
NHTSA #03V343000 · Service Brakes, Air — Slack Adjusters · NHTSA notice
Reported September 15, 2003 · PACCAR INCORPORATED
Potentially affected: 111 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 903-F · Owners notified January 6, 2004 · Vehicles built May 27, 2003 – August 21, 2003 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR 15X4 FRONT BRAKES AND DANA E1200 STEER AXLE, THE LEFT BRAKE CANNOT FULLY APPLY OR IT WOULD BECOME STUCK AND NOT RELEASE.
Safety consequence
IF THE LEFT BRAKE CANNOT FULLY BE APPLIED OR IF IT WERE TO BECOME STUCK AND NOT RELEASE, THIS COULD AFFECT THE VEHILCE STOPPING DISTANCE AND STABILITY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE "UNHANDED" AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER WITH A "HANDED" AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER THAT HAS A SIDE MOUNTED PAWL NUT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 6, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE FREMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.
Notes
PETERBILT RECALL NO. 903-F.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
PACCAR/REAR HUB RETAINING NUT
NHTSA #03V288000 · Power Train — Axle Hubs · NHTSA notice
Reported August 6, 2003 · PACCAR INCORPORATED
Potentially affected: 132 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 03KW8/803-D · Owners notified September 17, 2003 · Vehicles built April 7, 2003 – April 18, 2003 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE LOCKING TAB THAT LOCKS THE OUTER SPINDLE NUT ONTO THE SPINDLE WAS NOT ENGAGED OR PROPERLY BENT OVER.
Safety consequence
FAILURE TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE LOCKING FEATURE INTO THE NUT COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO LOOSEN WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE WHEEL BEARING TO OVER HEAT AND FAIL IF UNDETECTED. IF THE LOOSE NUT IS NOT DETECTED, THE OUTER END (TIRE, WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY) COULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HUBS TO DETERMINE IF THE LOCKING TABS ARE PROPERLY BENT. IF THE LOCKING TABS ARE NOT BENT, THEN DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS FOR PREMATURE WEAR AND REPLACE SUCH COMPONENTS AS REQUIRED AND PROPERLY SECURE THE RETAINING NUT BY BENDING OVER THE LOCKING TAB. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.
Notes
KENWORTH RECALL NO. 03KW8/PETERBILT RECALL NO. 803-D.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
PACCAR/FIFTH WHEELS/FATIGUE CRACKS
NHTSA #03V168000 · Trailer Hitches — Fifth Wheel Assembly · NHTSA notice
Reported May 5, 2003 · PACCAR INCORPORATED
Potentially affected: 483 vehicles
Manufacturer campaign 03KW4/403-C · Owners notified June 18, 2003 · Vehicles built January 21, 2003 – April 22, 2003 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH JOST INTERNATIONAL JSK 37U SERIES FIFTH WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE BRACKET PIN WELD UNDER CERTAIN LOADING CONDITIONS.
Safety consequence
IF LEFT UNDETECTED OR CORRECTED IT COULD LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL TOP PLATE FROM ITS MOUNTING STRUCTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRACKET PINS AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. PETERBILT'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. KENWORTH'S OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.
Notes
PETERBILT RECALL NO. 403-C/KENWORTH RECALL NO. 03KW4.ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other Peterbilt 379 model years
Check your 2003 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.
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