Total Complaints
2 filings
PETERBILT PETERBILT · model year
1979 PETERBILT PETERBILT
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1979PETERBILTPETERBILT carries 2 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 1979 PETERBILT is structure:frame and members with 1 filings, followed by tires:sidewall (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.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1979 PETERBILT. 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.
2
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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070328TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1979 PETERBUILT 359 THREE AXLE HEAVY TRUCK SIDEWALLS TIRES BLEW OUT. HE HAD THREE BLOW OUTS WHILE DRIVING AT 40-60 MPH. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BLOW OUTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE SIDEWALL WAS SEPARATING. THE TIRES ON THE TRUCK WERE GOODYEAR, KELLY AMOUR STEEL TIRED, 11R24.5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING WAS 2,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS OF TODAY HAD ANOTHER TIRE ON THE TRUCK WITH A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL.*AK
19980331STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRAGMENTS FROM UNDER CARRIAGE BROKE FREE AND DAMAGED VEHICLE.
Compare 1979PETERBILTPETERBILT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1979 PETERBILT PETERBILT have?▼
The 1979 PETERBILT PETERBILT has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1979 PETERBILT PETERBILT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1979 PETERBILT PETERBILT is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:SIDEWALL.
Is the 1979 PETERBILT PETERBILT 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.