AI Damage1997 Peterbilt 379: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Peterbilt 379 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 25% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 25% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
Wheel seals & bearings went out. Had bearings & seals replaced & they went out again. Also wheel hub and spindle might be defective.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 379 has 4 complaints (17 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Peterbilt 379?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, fuel system, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (50%), won't start (25%), rust, corrosion (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Peterbilt 379?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Peterbilt 379 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.