My 2020 [XXX] [XXX] VIN:[XXX] was brought to Rihm Kenworth in [XXX] on XXX while actively under warranty." The dealership confirmed a PACCAR MX-13 camshaft failure, which is a known manufacturer defect tied to PACCAR Campaigns E252 and E266. Camshafts Are Explicitly Covered 100% The text of PACCAR's official 700k warranty bulletin explicitly states what is covered under this specific campaign: The dealer manager claims PACCAR corporate has placed an arbitrary $4,000 cap on a $14,105. warranty repair but completely refuses to provide any written documentation or contractual justification for the Cap. The dealer told me to contact PACCAR legal department and I have called, sent numerous emails to PACCAR and have not received a response back. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2020 Peterbilt 579 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Driver assistance2
- Electrical2
- Transmission2
- Brakes1
- Engine1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Driver assistance2
- Electrical2
- Transmission2
- Brakes1
- Engine1
Recalls 6
Steering: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T880, T800, W900, W990; and 2018-2020 Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567, and 579 vehicles. The Dana D-Series axle steer arm fasteners that attach the steering arm to the steering knuckle may fail.
- Risk
- Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace and torque the steer arm fasteners, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22 PBB and 22 KWB.
Recall number 22V277000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 21V00N000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Kenworth T880, W990, Peterbilt 567, 579, 389, and 2022 Peterbilt 536, 537 wrecker and auto hauler vehicles. The work brake (winch brake) may unintentionally disengage the service brakes during winching operations, causing the vehicle to roll.
- Risk
- Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888 (Kenworth); or 1‑940‑591‑4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWG and 21PBM.
Recall number 21V906000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 20V130000 · Recall details
Visibility
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Peterbilt 579 vehicles equipped with a sleeper box. The conspicuity tape may have been installed in the incorrect location, affecting the vehicle's visibility to other drivers on the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install additional conspicuity tape on back of sleeper in correct location, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2019. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 19PBE.
Recall number 19V733000 · Recall details
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
- What is wrong
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Peterbilt 520 and 579 vehicles and Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 vehicles. The mirror glass may detach from the mirror carrier plate due to inadequate adhesion.
- Risk
- If the mirror glass detaches, the driver may have reduced visibility and the mirror glass will become a road hazard that may strike another vehicle or pedestrian, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- PACCAR has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the upper mirror glass/mirror carrier, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Kenworth owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5888 and Peterbilt owners may call 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 19KWC and 19PBC.
Recall number 19V340000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Peterbilt 579 107
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Kw & pb DEF
- 7/700 Service Agreement
- The new 2.1m day cab lift tools, a Level 3 mandatory tool, are now available to order.
- Certain chassis equipped with an engine model year 2019
- This optional software update is expected to be available after 10/30/2026 for chassis equipped with EMY...
- "Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes
- An exhaust manifold slip joint seal kit is now available for EPA 2017-2024 PACCAR MX-13 engines.
- The procedure has been updated to include additional steps for verifying the software level on the vehicle...
- 105 chassis have been removed from the chassis list and unflagged in PRWS due to expiration of applicable...
- This optional software update is now available for chassis equipped with EMY 2021B-2023 PACCAR MX-11 and...
What 2020 Peterbilt 579 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Camshaft failure as described in previous service bulletins for same year, make, model truck and Paccar MX-17 engine. Available for inspection as truck is not operational. Vehicle has been inspected by mechanic and no warning, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure being noticed and inspected to locate issue.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 Peterbilt 579. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 217,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 349,571.
Vehicle has a following distance sensor on front bumper. Sensor is sensing overpasses when traveling underneath them and that should not be detected. Vehicle is automatically applying hard braking. This is causing a possible rear end collision and or loss of vehicle controll in wet conditions.
Eoa support bracket broke off and the eoa manifold fell into the drive shaft causing the loss of air pressure. The truck was on the instate in the city.
Compare the 2020 Peterbilt 579
Other model years
Questions about the 2020 Peterbilt 579
Is the 2020 Peterbilt 579 reliable?
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2020 Peterbilt 579, 1.7 times a typical 579 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Peterbilt 579?
Driver assistance and stability, with 2 complaints. Next is electrical (2).
How many recalls does the 2020 Peterbilt 579 have?
6 recalls, covering steering, electrical system and visibility.
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