Quick Overview

  • Paccar is recalling 5,919 model-year 2027 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks because the power distribution box may be contaminated by oil, according to a defect notice it filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 27.
  • The unit, which distributes power to the cab, could fail, causing loss of drive power, anti-lock braking, exterior lighting, windshield wipers, or defrost systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on September 25. Owners can take their trucks to a dealer, where the power distribution center box will be replaced for free if necessary.

In-Depth Insights

Paccar told regulators that an ABS failure would trigger a warning light, but drivers would receive no alert before losing lights, wipers, defrost, or drive power, according to documents filed with NHTSA on July 30.

The affected range is narrow but recent. All affected vehicles are model-year 2027, with production dates concentrated within about five weeks: June 9 to July 13.

Affected 2027 models include:

  • Kenworth T280 (truck)
  • Kenworth T380 (truck)
  • Kenworth T480 (truck)
  • Kenworth T680 (tractor)
  • Kenworth T880 (tractor)
  • Kenworth W990 (tractor)
  • Peterbilt 536 (truck)
  • Peterbilt 537 (truck)
  • Peterbilt 548 (truck)
  • Peterbilt 567 (truck)
  • Peterbilt 579 (tractor)
  • Peterbilt 589 (tractor)

These trucks do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) Nos. 103, 104, and 108 (covering defrosting, wipers, and lamps), so dealers may not sell affected vehicles until repairs are completed.

As of July 27, Paccar had not received any warranty claims related to this recall.

This recall is the latest in a series of recalls by the company in recent years, following: more than 47,000 trucks in early 2024 (steering gear assembly issue), more than 116,000 trucks in March 2024 (improper crimping of the right-hand shift lever connector), approximately 221,000 trucks in December 2024 (related to the Bendix EC80 electronic control unit), and more than 55,000 trucks in mid-2025 (headlamp and lift axle issues).