2012 Peterbilt 579Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 0 owner complaints about the 2012 Peterbilt 579. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-283 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 6, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Peterbilt 579 has problems

0 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2012 Peterbilt 579 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

27%repaired · 2022 Q1

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Recall 20V-199 · Apr 6, 2020 · 460,515 vehicles · 125,765 repaired

Risk. If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

30%repaired · 2017 Q1

Equipment

Recall 15V-641 · Oct 9, 2015 · 290 vehicles · 86 repaired

Risk. If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

65%repaired · 2016 Q4

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Recall 15V-456 · Jul 22, 2015 · 288 vehicles · 187 repaired

Risk. If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

76%repaired · 2016 Q4

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Recall 15V-270 · May 8, 2015 · 1,494 vehicles · 1,138 repaired

Risk. If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
91%repaired · 2016 Q3

Other: labels

Recall 15V-132 · Mar 6, 2015 · 213,230 vehicles · 194,366 repaired

Risk. If the tires are underinflated due to the incorrect inflation pressure listed on the label, the truck may not be able to carry the maximum gross vehicle weight…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

22%repaired · 2015 Q4

Air bags

Recall 14V-283 · May 29, 2014 · 1,705 vehicles · 381 repaired

Risk. Without a warning of a problem existing in the side air bag system, the driver may continue to operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury from the side…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Peterbilt.

Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other 579 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 579 median. How we score

'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2012 Peterbilt 579, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Intermittent Loss of Power Steering AssistPE20006 · closed Mar 27, 2024
    No recall

Own a 2012 579?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.