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1997 Peterbilt Peterbilt Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Critical

5 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 2.20 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical00V029000

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRING AND, IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF RUBBING, THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND/OR FUEL LINES WILL BE REPLACED AND ROUTED CORRECTLY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED EQUIPPED WITH 1998 CATERPILLAR 3406E ENGINES. THE ROUTING OF THE CATERPILLAR FUEL LINES AND PETERBILT ENGINE WIRING CAN CAUSE RUBBING ON THE FUEL LINE.

Serious99V281000

Service Brakes, Air

THIS CONDITION WOULD CAUSE DECREASED BRAKING PERFORMANCE raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE CHAMBERS.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MERITOR 15X4 BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSTALLED ON LIFTABLE/STEERABLE TAG/PUSHER AXLES CONTAINED A SIZE 12 BRAKE CHAMBER INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED SIZE 16 BRAKE CHAMBER.

Complaint volume

5 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
1Fires
2Injuries
0Deaths

Across 5 complaints. Severity Index 2.20.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System · 12v/2…2 · 40%Engine And Engine Cooling…2 · 40%Fuel System, Gasoline · D…1 · 20%
  1. Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables — 2 reports
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline — 2 reports
  3. Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (3) · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 (3) · 1999 (3)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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