Total Complaints
6 filings
PETERBILT PETERBILT · model year
1994 PETERBILT PETERBILT
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994PETERBILTPETERBILT carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 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 1994 PETERBILT is tires:tread/belt with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (1) and electrical system (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 1994 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.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060808TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A TREAD SEPARATION ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION, AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED.
20050701TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: CALLER SAID A TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL. CALLER DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT'S NAME AT THE MANUFACTURER WAS WINIFRED BISHOP, AND THE FILE # 05020037. THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE CLAIM SERVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURER IS 626-568-7832. MANUFACTURER 'S PHONE NUMBER IS 1-800-423-4544 EXT. CALLER BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY.*AK
Mileage: 205,722
20041007FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1994 PETERBILT DUMP TRUCK. ELECTRICAL SHORT NEAR STARTER MOTOR. FIRE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED. *NM
19990603POWER TRAIN
THE CARRIER BEARING SUPPORTING THE (2) PIECE DRIVESHAFT, CUT LOOSE CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO STRIKE RIGHT SIDE FUEL TANK AND CROSSOVER LINE RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS.
19990505FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. MJS
19960404SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL PART AVAILABLE (95E-003). PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Compare 1994PETERBILTPETERBILT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 PETERBILT PETERBILT have?▼
The 1994 PETERBILT PETERBILT has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 PETERBILT PETERBILT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 PETERBILT PETERBILT is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 1994 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.