Total Complaints
3 filings
PETERBILT 379 · model year
2003 PETERBILT 379
3 NHTSA complaints, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003PETERBILT379 carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 379 is wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and fuel system, diesel:storage:tank assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2003 379. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recalls (5)
03V41000020/10/2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
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.
03V34300015/09/2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SLACK ADJUSTERS
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.
07V04400012/02/2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.
03V28800006/08/2003
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE LOCKING TAB THAT LOCKS THE OUTER SPINDLE NUT ONTO THE SPINDLE WAS NOT ENGAGED OR PROPERLY BENT OVER.
03V16800005/05/2003
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
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.
Recent Complaints
20050603FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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 CATERPILLAR DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS A CAT ENGINE, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN HAVING MY TRUCK TOWED FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND BUYING PARTS TO TRY AND FIND THE PROBLEM MYSELF, I FOUND OUT THAT THE DIESEL FUEL IS MIXING IN THE HYDROLIC OIL. THE WHOLE TRUCK IS NOW CONTAMINATED AND IS BEYOND REPAIR. THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
20030429ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 WAS MANUFACTURED BY CATAPULT, SERIAL NO. 69Z70080. *NLM
20020815WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY SAW GREASE LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Compare 2003PETERBILT379 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 PETERBILT 379 have?▼
The 2003 PETERBILT 379 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 PETERBILT 379?▼
Yes, the 2003 PETERBILT 379 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 PETERBILT 379?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 PETERBILT 379 is WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 2003 PETERBILT 379 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.