AI Damage2003 Peterbilt 379: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Peterbilt 379 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Wheels 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
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 caterpillar dealership because it was a cat engine, they said nothing was wrong.
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.
While traveling on highway saw grease leaking from underneath the vehicle. Left front wheel was leaking. Manufacturer was aware of problem.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 379 has 4 complaints (17 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Peterbilt 379?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, fuel system, wheels. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 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 2003 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.