Peterbilt 579: problems, complaints, bulletins

Summary for the Peterbilt 579 across 12 model years: 0 owner complaints and 273 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.

Model years

Year	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)	YouTube repair videos
2027	0	0	9	0
2026	0	0	51	0
2025	0	0	94	0
2024	0	0	85	0
2023	0	0	90	0
2022	0	0	109	0
2021	0	0	115	0
2020	0	0	88	0
2019	0	0	65	0
2018	0	0	65	0
2017	0	0	73	0
2016	0	0	55	0

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Electrical system	0	0	270
Engine	0	0	242
Engine and cooling	0	0	118
Equipment	0	0	104
Powertrain	0	0	89
Structure	0	0	64
Service brakes	0	0	39
Fuel system	0	0	37
Visibility	0	0	31
Exterior lighting	0	0	19
Steering	0	0	15
Fuel/propulsion system	0	0	14
Suspension	0	0	13
Forward collision avoidance	0	0	12

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Manufacturer service bulletins

Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.

2025–2026 · 11037543 · 2027 "The PKC Group power distribution center (PDC) in certain vehicles may be contaminated with oil, which…
2025–2026 · 11037541 · 2016–2027 "Kenworth
2025–2026 · 11037540 · 2027 "(KW) Parts Shortage – Due to supplier constraints, certain T680 and T880 chassis were shipped without…
2025–2026 · 11037480 · 2025–2026 Certain chassis with CARB 2024 compliant MX-13 engines must have the PEU wiring harnesses updated
2025–2026 · 11037479 · 2024–2027 [SmartAir / KIMS] A/C systems may shut down prematurely when voltage levels drop below a certain threshold
2025–2026 · 11037451 · 2017–2027 An exhaust manifold slip joint seal kit is now available for EPA 2017-2024 PACCAR MX-13 engines
2025–2026 · 11037450 · 2025–2026 "KW
2025–2026 · 11037449 · 2025–2026 "KW
2025–2026 · 11037448 · 2024–2025 "KW
2025–2026 · 11036428 · 2025–2026 "KW
2025–2026 · 11036427 · 2024–2025 "KW
2025–2026 · 11036426 · 2025–2026 "KW

Other models of this make

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 2026-11-04.