2003 Peterbilt 379 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 379 years
- Not enough data 8th of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Peterbilt 379. That ranks 8th out of 22 379 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (1 complaints, 33%). There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Peterbilt 379 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Peterbilt 379 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, air
Problem: On certain non-abs equipped trucks, an air hose between the tractor protection valve and the back of the cab bulkhead was omitted.
Risk: The absence of this air hose could adversely affect the drive axle brake performance while a trailer is being pulled, resulting in longer stopping distances, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Peterbilt will inspect the air hose plumbing of the drive axle brake system and make the necessary repairs. The recall began on february 22, 2007. Owners may contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with dana spicer integral knuckle and steer arm assemblies, the steer axle assemblies may have a longitudinal crack in the steer arm.
Risk: If the crack should propagate over time, the ball could become loose resulting in a loss of steering, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the knuckle and steer arm assemblies. Owner notification began january 5, 2004. Owners should contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201.
Service brakes, air:slack adjusters
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with meritor 15x4 front brakes and dana e1200 steer axle, the left brake cannot fully apply or it would become stuck and not release.
Risk: If the left brake cannot fully be applied or if it were to become stuck and not release, this could affect the vehilce stopping distance and stability.
Fix: Dealers will replace the "unhanded" automatic slack adjuster with a "handed" automatic slack adjuster that has a side mounted pawl nut. Owner notification began january 6, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free fremedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201.
Power train:axle hubs
Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks, the locking tab that locks the outer spindle nut onto the spindle was not engaged or properly bent over.
Risk: Failure to properly engage the locking feature into the nut could cause the nut to loosen which will eventually cause the wheel bearing to over heat and fail if undetected. If the loose nut is not detected, the outer end (tire, wheel and hub assembly) could become separated from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the hubs to determine if the locking tabs are properly bent. If the locking tabs are not bent, then dealers will inspect the appropriate components for premature wear and replace such components as required and properly secure the retaining nut by bending over the locking tab. Owner notification began september 17, 2003. Owners should contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 940-591-4201.
Trailer hitches:fifth wheel assembly
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with jost international jsk 37u series fifth wheels, a fatigue crack can develop in the bracket pin weld under certain loading conditions.
Risk: If left undetected or corrected it could lead to the separation of the fifth wheel top plate from its mounting structure, possibly resulting in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the bracket pins and repair instructions free of charge. Peterbilt's owner notification began june 20, 2003. Kenworth's owner notification began june 12, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 940-591-4201 or kenworth 425-828-5440.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I bought a 2003 peterbilt 379 truck with a split tank in november 2002. 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…
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. The motor…
While traveling on highway saw grease leaking from underneath the vehicle. Left front wheel was leaking. Manufacturer was aware of problem.*ak
Other Peterbilt 379 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 379 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 379 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 379 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 379 | 0 | 2 |
| 2012 379 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 379 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 379 | 0 | 2 |
| 2009 379 | 0 | 5 |
| 2008 379 | 0 | 9 |
| 2007 379 | 6 | 9 |
| 2006 379 | 2 | 7 |
| 2005 379 | 7 | 6 |
| 2004 379 | 1 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 | 5 |
| 2002 379 | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 379 | 6 | 4 |
| 2000 379 | 12 | 6 |
| 1999 379 | 5 | 6 |
| 1998 379 | 6 | 2 |
| 1997 379 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 379 | 2 | 1 |
| 1995 379 | 3 | 0 |
See all Peterbilt 379 problems by year, every Peterbilt model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Peterbilt 379?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, fuel system, diesel, wheels problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Peterbilt 379?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Peterbilt 379 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 379 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.