RECALLS — MAKE · MODEL · YEAR
2016 Peterbilt 579 recalls
19 safety recall campaigns have been filed for the 2016 Peterbilt 579 with Transport Canada and the U.S. NHTSA. Here is what both agencies say.
- Canadian recalls
- 08
- U.S. recalls
- 11
- Total campaigns
- 19
Transport Canada recalls
08- Lights And Instruments#2020148
65,284 units affected
Issue: On certain trucks, the warning light for the tractor anti-lock brake system (ABS) may not turn on if the system loses power. If this happens, the driver will not get warning that the ABS is not working properly. Note: This problem would also cause the traction control (TC) and electronic stability control (ESC) lights not to turn on. Safety Risk: If a driver is not warned that the ABS is not working properly, there could be an increased risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to update the software for the cab control module (CECU).
- Electrical#2020090
2,435 units affected
Issue: On certain trucks, the battery cables to the jump-start terminal may be too long. As a result, the cables could contact and chafe against the left-front suspension leaf spring. If this happens, a short circuit could occur and cause the positive cable to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects trucks with a left-hand under-hood battery jumper terminal. Safety Risk: An overheated or melted battery cable could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer for an inspection of the jump-start terminal cables. If the cables are too long, they will be replaced.
- Brakes#2018389
214 units affected
Certain vehicles may fail to conform to the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 121 - Air Brake Systems and CMVSS 136 - Electronic Stability Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles. In the event that the anti-lock brake system (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the ABS indicator lamp may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS, which is contrary to the requirements of the standards. This could result in the loss of ABS function with no warning to the driver, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the cab control module.
- Steering#2017461
281 units affected
On certain vehicles, the castellated nut and cotter pin on the steer axle may not have been tightened to specification. This could cause the tie rod to become loose in the steer axle, which would result in audible noise and/or looseness in steering. If the vehicle were continued to be operated in this condition, the tie rod could disconnect from the knuckle, resulting in a complete loss of control of a vehicle wheel, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nuts on the tie rod, and replace the tie rod stud and knuckle as necessary.
- Electrical#2017374
240 units affected
On certain vehicles, the polyfuse for the spotlight could develop a short circuit in the cabin fuse box. A short circuit could result in overheating and melting of the fuse box, and could increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the optional polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit with a standard fuse.
- Engine#2015418
9 units affected
On certain vehicles equipped with a Cummins engine, the Engine Control Module (ECM) could develop an internal electrical short circuit that could blow a fuse in the ECM’s electrical supply circuit. This could result in an unexpected engine stall without the ability to restart the engine, which could increase the risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers will replacing the existing, affected ECM with a new ECM.
- Electrical#2015317
86 units affected
On certain vehicles equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Leece Neville alternators, the alternator charge cable may chafe against an air conditioning discharge line. This chafing could lead to damage of the alternator cable's insulation and could lead to an electrical short, increasing the risk of fire, which could result in injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will rotate the alternator cable end 180 degrees to provide necessary clearance and reattach the cable to the alternator.
- Electrical#2015189
140 units affected
On certain vehicles equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI alternators, the alternator charge cable may chafe against an air conditioning discharge line. This chafing could lead to damage of the alternator cable's insulation and could lead to an electrical short, increasing the risk of fire, which could result in injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will rotate the alternator cable end 180 degrees to provide necessary clearance and reattach the cable to the alternator.
Canadian data updated August 24, 2026
U.S. NHTSA recalls
11- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING#21V00N000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Peterbilt 567, 579, 2021-2022 Peterbilt 536, 2017-2021 Kenworth T880, 2016-2022 Kenworth T680, 2018-2020 Kenworth T440, 2020 Kenworth T270, and 2021 Kenworth T280 vehicles. The methane detection system will not function if the system loses power.
Risk: The operator may be unaware of a system malfunction or the presence of excessive methane levels, increasing the risk of injury or fire.
Remedy: Dealers will re-wire the warning alarm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2022. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220, and Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWH and 21PBN.
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)#20V199000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
Risk: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES#20V130000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles equipped with a left-hand under hood jumper terminal (option code 2539410). The positive battery jumper terminal cable may be too long, allowing it to chafe against the left front suspension spring and result in an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20PBA.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING#18V816000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Kenworth T680 and T880 and Peterbilt 579 trucks, greater than 30 feet long and equipped with side extender mounted intermediate marker lamp/turn signals that do not include a reflex reflector. Since both intermediate side marker lamps and reflex reflectors are required, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Missing reflex reflectors can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will install reflex reflective tape, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-918-259-3258. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18KWF, and 18PBC.
- STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY#17V593000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016 Peterbilt 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 389, 389G, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and Kenworth K170, T170, T270, T370, T440, T470,T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks equipped with certain Spicer D or E series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.
Risk: If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000 or Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is P817-C.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING#17V471000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Peterbilt 567 and 579 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks equipped with optional spotlights. The spotlight circuit may not be adequately protected in the event of a short.
Risk: A short in the spotlight circuitry may increase the risk of a fire at the cab fuse block.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will change the polyfuse switch in the spotlight circuit to a standard fuse, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2017. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 17KWC and 717-B.
- POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION#15V639000
Paccar (Paccar Incorporated) is recalling certain 2016 Kenworth T680, T800, and T880 trucks manufactured January 5, 2015, to January 7, 2015 and 2016 Peterbilt 367, 384, 567, and 579 trucks manufactured January 2, 2015, to January 9, 2015 and equipped with Eaton Fuller FR 10-speed manual transmissions. In the affected vehicles, when the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to neutral, the reverse gear may stay engaged. When the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to a forward gear position, the transmission may mechanically lock because both the reverse gear and forward gear are simultaneously engaged.
Risk: Even though the transmission has been shifted out of reverse into neutral, the vehicle may unexpectedly move backwards, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Paccar will notify the owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the affected transmissions if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Paccar's numbers for this recall are 15KWM (Kenworth) and 1015N (Peterbilt).
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE#15V597000
Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 12, 2015, and 2016 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured August 4, 2015, to August 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
Risk: An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Paccar's numbers for this recall are 15KWM (Kenworth) and 915-L (Peterbilt).
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR#15V456000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
Risk: If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 715-K.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR#15V270000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
Risk: If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 15KWE and 515-F.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS#15V132000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2006-2016 Peterbilt 587, 579, 567, 389, 388, 387, 385, 382, 379, 378, 367, 365 and 357 trucks manufactured July 25, 2005, to February 26, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with Tire and Rim Certification Labels that list a tire pressure below the actual correct amount. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, "Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds)."
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 rating (GVWR) load listed without experiencing tire failure which would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners and mail them a corrected Tire and Rim certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-D.
Does this recall apply to my vehicle?
Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.
What to do
Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, or to book the work, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:
- NHTSA recall lookup (search by VIN) — U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Defects and recalls database — Transport Canada
Check a 2016 Peterbilt 579 VIN
A VIN decode confirms your vehicle's exact model year, trim and assembly plant, then runs this same recall check against it.