PETERBILT Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PETERBILT 335 ROLLBACK WRECKER. THE CONTACT WAS PERFORMING REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED THE FIREWALL IN THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NOT A FREE SERVICE REPAIR OFFERED BY THE DEALER FOR THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2010 PETERBILT 386, RAIN WATER BEADS ON THE SIDE WINDOWS AND DOES NOT GET BLOWN OFF. AS THIS BEADING BUILDS UP ON THE WINDOWS AND THE MIRROR, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE MIRRORS. WHEN THIS OCCURS AT NIGHT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE MIRRORS. CHANGING LANES IN THESE CONDITIONS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

THIS SIX VEHICLE FLEET REPORTS THAT ONE VEHICLE (OF THE SIX) EXHIBITED PULL TO RIGHT. OWNER INVESTIGATION FOUND A FRACTURED FRONT BRAKE (MOST LIKELY THE AIR CHAMBER MOUNTING BRACKET). OPPOSITE SIDE FRONT BRAKE WAS FOUND CRACKED. UPDATED 06/29/10 *BF THE RIGHT FRONT AIR CHAMBER BROKE OFF. UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB

1993 PETERBILT CONVENTIONAL TRAILER OVERTURNED. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT THE TRAILER WAS UNSAFE. THE MOUNTS ON THE AXLE WERE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0079-89) UPDATED 05/13/10 *BF

2005 PETERBILT 379 CONVENTIONAL, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE FROM TRUCK ONTO THE ROADWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK IT. *BF OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0279-90 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) LOW ENGINE HEAT AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM OIL COOLER, STARTED ON COLD DAY BACK DECEMBER 14TH 2009, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. WANTED OIL COOLER RESEALED AND TWO THERMOSTATS REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS THIRD PARTY WARRANTY. DEALER ASKED PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN, WE DENIED ACTION, SAID TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO WARRANTY PROTOCOL. DEALER COMPLETELY DISMANTLES MOTOR INCORRECTLY CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. NOW DEALER IS HOLDING VEHICLE HOSTAGE SINCE WE WILL NOT SIGN RELEASE OF LAW SUIT FOR DAMAGE. DEALER NEVER TOLD US THEY WERE DOING THIS. AS AN ALTERER OF MANUFACTURED VEHICLES MY SELF, I DO REMEMBER THAT A REPAIR SHOP HAS NO AUTHORITY TO PLACE A VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE OR INOPERABLE CONDITION. AFTER THE FACT OF THIS, I HAVE SEEN VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, THAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY DONE OR EVEN HAVE AN ALTERERS DECAL SHOWING CHANGES TO SUSPENSION, DRILLING AND CUTTING OF FRAMES AND SO ON. I AM WRITING YOU ON THIS FOR A POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION OF THE DEALER. I HAVE ALSO SINCE FOUND THIS IS A NORMAL PRACTICE WITH THIS DEALER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BBB AND THEY HAVE AN F RATING FOR THIS COMPANY ON COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER NEVER RESPONDS. I DO HAVE AN ATTORNEY INVOLVED, AND WOULD ALSO LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I FEEL THIS COMPANY COULD BE PLACING PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY FOR FAULTY REPAIRS, AND MODIFICATIONS. [XXX] *TR

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THIS IS REGARDING PETERBILTS RECALL #303-A I HAVE A 1998 379 THAT WAS PURCHASED 10/5/01 SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED THE HUB BEARINGS ON THE STEER AXLE ONCE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THREE TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER THE THIRD TIME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I REPLACED EVERYTHING ( SPINDLE,HUB,AND DRUM ) ACCORDING TO PETERBILT MY TRUCK DOES NOT FALL INTO THEIR RECALL. I BELIEVE IT DOES AND IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BECAUSE AFTER REPLACING THE FOREMENTIONED PARTS IT SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

1992 PETERBILT CONVENIONAL ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY DRIVER. *KB THE FIRE WAS SMALL AND WAS CONFINED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0033-90 *JB UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE HORTON FAN HUB CAME OFF AND INTO THE RADIATOR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND I WAS IN THE SLEEPER CABIN. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE NOISE WHEN THE HUB FAILED. SHE SAW A LOT OF STEAM OR SMOKE AND FIRST THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD AFFECTING HER VISABILITY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER WHICH AT THAT TIME WE WERE ABLE TO SEE ANITFREEZE AND PIECES OF FAN BLADES ON THE GROUND. WE SUSPECT THERE WERE ALSO DEBRIS LEFT ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED WITH 294,000. THE FIRST FAN HUB FAILURE OCCURRED WITH 380,000, THE 2ND WITH 649,800. WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM HORTON TELLING US WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT BUT WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM YET. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF UPDATED 12/23/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PETERBILT 379 TRACTOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE DISPLAYED FLUCTUATED READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN MASSIVE FLAMES. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ