Peterbilt · vehicle model

Peterbilt 579

52 NHTSA complaints and 130 safety recalls across model years 2013–2026.

Complaints
52
Recalls
130
Model years
13

The verdict

The Peterbilt 579 pairs above-average complaint volume with 130 recalls (heavily recalled).

40th pctile
complaint volume, US models
130
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Peterbilt 579 vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

52 Around the middle lower than 40% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The Peterbilt579 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 52 consumer safety complaints and 130 recall campaigns across 13 model years (2013–2026). That averages roughly 4 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 3 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20261
20243
20233
20226
20211
20204
20194
201812
20172
20164
20156
20145
20131

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 16 in 2017-2021 to 25 in 2022-2026, a rise of 56.3%. That is the 76th percentile of change across the 763 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

1
’13
6
’15
4
’16
3
’17
5
’19
2
’20
6
’21
1
’22
7
’23
6
’24
10
’25
1
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare Peterbilt579 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Peterbilt 579?
The Peterbilt 579 has received 52 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2013 to 2026, with 130 recalls. That averages about 4 complaints per model year.
What years of Peterbilt 579 are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the Peterbilt 579 from 2013 to 2026 (13 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the Peterbilt 579 have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many Peterbilt 579 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common Peterbilt 579 complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the Peterbilt 579 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my Peterbilt 579 has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Peterbilt 579 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.