AI Damage2001 Peterbilt 379: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Peterbilt 379 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 50% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 33% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 33% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- Suspension: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Equipment: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Front wheel bearings have required tightening numerous times. The left and right side bearings have been replaced due to spindles.
Vehicle would wander when driving 60-65 mph, vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions, and roblem still occurring. Feel free to provide any further information.
Consumer believed it was coming out of air conditioner evaporator. It burned consumer's eyes. Consumer will contact the manufacturer.
The vehicle exhibits strong vibration, the dealer has balanced the driveshaft, delay spring, replaced the front shock absorbers, front bearings, installed aluminum front hubs, aligned the front wheels, replaced engine injector coils, replaced one defective wheel, replaced muffler seal, mirror door mounting and, with…
The door is out of alignmet allowing cold air to enter the cab while driving and making it difficult to open and close the door, the dealer has has attempted to fix the problem on several occasions but with no success. Nlm
Vehicle vibrates excessively at high speeds of 55 to 65mph. Dealer has seen vehicle 2 times, and problem still exists.
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 379 has 4 complaints (17 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Peterbilt 379?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, equipment, structure. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 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 2001 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.
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.