2016 Peterbilt 579
Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Only 3 complaints on file for this model year -- too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
2 of 3 total reports mention: power train.
Show complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PETERBILT 579. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED AND THE STEERING COLUMN RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY ONTO THE CONTACT'S LAP.
NHTSA ODI report, 20160708
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PETERBILT 579. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE GOING BACK INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED.
NHTSA ODI report, 20160705
1 of 3 total reports mentions: steering.
Show complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 PETERBILT 579. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED AND THE STEERING COLUMN RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY ONTO THE CONTACT'S LAP.
NHTSA ODI report, 20160708
1 of 3 total reports mentions: electrical system.
Show complaint excerpts
the window switch that operates the window goes bad on every single one of these trucks . the switch controls windows , door locks dome light and mirror heat.
NHTSA ODI report, 20211227
SAFETY TIMELINE
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2006-2016 Peterbilt 587, 579, 567, 389, 388, 387, 385, 382, 379, 378, 367, 365 and 357 trucks manufactured July 25, 2005, to February 26, 2016.
Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners and mail them a corrected Tire and Rim certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-D.
Campaign 15V132000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to...
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015.
Campaign 15V270000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015.
Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015.
Campaign 15V456000 — check if this car was fixed
Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 12, 2015, and 2016 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587...
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2015.
Campaign 15V597000 — check if this car was fixed
Paccar (Paccar Incorporated) is recalling certain 2016 Kenworth T680, T800, and T880 trucks manufactured January 5, 2015, to January 7, 2015 and 2016 Peterbilt 367, 384, 567, and 579 trucks manufactured January 2, 2015, to January 9, 2015 and...
Remedy: Paccar will notify the owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the affected transmissions if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015.
Campaign 15V639000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Peterbilt 567 and 579 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks equipped with optional spotlights. The spotlight circuit may not be adequately protected in the event of a short.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will change the polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit to a standard fuse, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220.
Campaign 17V471000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016 Peterbilt 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 389, 389G, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and Kenworth K170, T170, T270, T370, T440, T470,T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks...
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary.
Campaign 17V593000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, greater than 30 feet long and equipped with side extender mounted intermediate marker lamp/turn signals that do not include a reflex...
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will install reflex reflective tape, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWF, and 18PBC.
Campaign 18V816000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles equipped with a left-hand under hood jumper terminal (option code 2539410).
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220.
Campaign 20V130000 — check if this car was fixed
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped...
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020.
Campaign 20V199000 — check if this car was fixed
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220, and Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888.
Campaign 21V00N000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
2016 Peterbilt 579 — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for power train issues (2 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for steering issues (1 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (1 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 15V132000 (equipment, tires) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V270000 (electrical system) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V456000 (electrical system) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V597000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
- Verify recall 15V639000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 17V471000 (electrical system, exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 17V593000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 18V816000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 20V130000 (electrical system) has been completed.
- Verify recall 20V199000 (electronic stability control (esc), service brakes, air) has been completed.
- Verify recall 21V00N000 (electrical system) has been completed.
FAQ
Is the 2016 Peterbilt 579 reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Peterbilt 579?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 67% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2016 Peterbilt 579 have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.