2023 Peterbilt 579 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (2) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
Safety recalls (11)
Electrical System:propulsion System 2025-03-24 · campaign 25V181000 · 238 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Peterbilt 520, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T680 trucks. The high voltage (HV) contactors may open, causing a sudden loss of high voltage and a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software and replace the electrical harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2025. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 and Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 25PBC and 25KWC.
Electrical System:software 2024-12-09 · campaign 24V915000 · 220,764 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
Risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift 2024-03-20 · campaign 24V190000 · 70,509 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.
Risk: A loss of communication between the gear shifter and the transmission may result in the vehicle becoming disabled after coming to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24PBE and 24KWE.
Fuel System, Diesel:storage:tank Assembly 2023-09-27 · campaign 23V653000 · 1,315 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 579 and 567 trucks. The U-bolts that attach the air tank to the chassis may contact the fuel tank and over time, wear a hole in the tank.
Risk: A punctured fuel tank can leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and trim the U-bolts, and replace the fuel tank as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2023. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 23PBH.
Electrical System 2023-06-13 · campaign 23V423000 · 4,967 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR, Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Peterbilt 579 vehicles equipped with MX-13 engines and 160-amp alternators. A fastener on the front spring bracket may have been installed with the head on the outside of the frame rail, which can chafe and damage the alternator positive cable.
Risk: A damaged alternator cable increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the frame fastener and secure the alternator cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 23PBD.
Parking Brake 2023-03-20 · campaign 23V185000 · 25 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Peterbilt 579 trucks. The Intellipark Tractor Park Valve Module (PVM) may intermittently become stuck in the un-parked position and fail to move into the park position when the park switch is activated.
Risk: A PVM that fails to move into park can cause a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the PVM with a new corrected part, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2023. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 23PBC.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2023-01-16 · campaign 23V007000 · 46 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Peterbilt 579 and 2023 Kenworth T680 vehicles. Incorrect software in the battery electric heavy duty electronic stability control program may underestimate the mass of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 136, "Electronic Stability Control Systems on Heavy Vehicles."
Risk: An incorrect estimate of the vehicle mass can reduce the performance of the stability control system and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 17, 2023. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) and 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 23PBA and 23KWA.
Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices:exterior 2022-12-16 · campaign 22V940000 · 2,565 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Peterbilt 579 vehicles. The molded hood mirror assemblies may break at the pivot joint and, if unsecured by a harness or tether, can fall into the roadway.
Risk: A molded hood mirror that falls into the roadway can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for a wire harness or tether and replace the hood mirror assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 14, 2023. Owners may contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 22PBF.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2022-10-17 · campaign 22V779000 · 74,730 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Kenworth T680, T880, W990, and Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles. The digital display may freeze and not display critical safety information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Trans Shift Lever Seq/Starter Interlock/Trans Braking Effect."
Risk: The loss of display information, such as vehicle speed and warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22KWK and 22PBK.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm) 2022-08-17 · campaign 22V631000 · 1,601 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2023 Peterbilt 220, 389, 520, 536, 537, 348, 367, 567, 548, 579, and 2023 Kenworth T680, K270, T440, T880, W990, K370, T280, T380, T480, T800, and W900 vehicles. The engine control module (ECM) may experience an internal electrical short-circuit, causing the engine to stall.
Risk: An unexpected engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ECM, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 16, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 22KWG and 22PBG.
Steering 2022-07-28 · campaign 22V547000 · 47,500 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Kenworth T170, T270, T280, T370, T380, T440, T470, T480, T680, T800, T880, W900, W990, C500, and 2022-2023 Peterbilt 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 536, 537, 548, 567, and 579 vehicles. The steering gears may have been assembled incorrectly, which can cause the gears to fracture.
Risk: A fractured steering gear can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering gear serial numbers, and replace the steering gears as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22PBE and 22KWE.
Service bulletins (90)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-11 · P001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"kenworth: dealers should check the chassis list and sir weekly for vin changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. peterbilt: dealers should check the chassis list and sir weekly for vin changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."
Engine 2026-09-05 · E343 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
an exhaust manifold slip joint seal kit is now available for epa 2017-2024 paccar mx-13 engines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · 01-093 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"kw: on certain t680 bev chassis, installing an updated a/c suction line between the a/c compressor and thermostatic expansion valve (txv) will help maintain optimal performance and protect the evaporator core tubing and txv seals. pb: on certain model 579 bev chassis, installing an updated a/c suc
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings 2026-08-13 · 24KWL/PBL · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the verbiage in the introduction section has been updated.
Engine 2026-08-13 · 43-088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the procedure has been updated to include additional steps for verifying the software level on the vehicle electronic control unit (vecu2) and digital display (dd). steps have also been added to the paccar common rail injection 2 (pci2) software verification.
Engine 2026-08-01 · E316 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
235 chassis have been removed from the chassis list and unflagged in prws due to expiration of applicable warranty coverage. 5 chassis have been added to the chassis list. the total chassis population is now 15,637.
Showing the 6 most recent of 90 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-15 · Power Train“peterbilt has a recall 24v190 for the right hand shifter stalk. this vin is not on the recall list however it does have the defective shift stalk and has been replaced 3 times prior to the recall. the most recent replacement was 8/20/24 replaced with the same defective part #. how do i get this truck on the recall list?…”
2024-09-17 · Visibility/Wiper“while driving in the rain, the wipers would not work. the driver tried and tried to work the switch but the wipers would not work. later, the wipers would work. at times the wipers work, at times they don't. we took the truck to the peterbilt dealer and the problem could not be duplicated, they offered no solutions, no direction other than to bring…”
2023-05-21 · Power Train“1. the components that malfunctioned were the "engine/transmission match" and "transmission communications failure idle torque limit". yes, my unit is available for inspection at any time. 2. when i had to stop on the freeway due to heavy traffic, the gearshift would not budge, causing an even bigger traffic delay. i had to turn off/on my unit mu…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.