1996 Peterbilt Peterbilt

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Electrical system1
2. Fuel system, gasoline1
3. Latches/locks/linkages1

Latest complaints

• Aug 23, 1999TX
  Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables

  Battery cables rubbing frame and trans external filter caused draw and super heating of wires and almost resulted in fire. Mjs

• Mar 3, 1999IN
  Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch

  Door of the rear semi trailer came open because to latch post was broken from the base causing damage to a metal post at toll stop.

• Sep 18, 1997PA
  Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting

  Strap on fuel tank brok, causing gas leak.

Defect investigations

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.

• Front axle bearing failure

  PE02091Opened Dec 3, 2002Closed May 23, 2003Recall 03V125000
  The companies involved in this matter are:skf (hub mfr), arvinmeritor (front axle mfr), and paccar, the corporate headquarters for kenworth and peterbilt, ( manufacturers of class viii tractor-trailers).skf identified manufacturing defects for specific build dates on front axle hub and bearings (wheel bearings)…

  The companies involved in this matter are:skf (hub mfr), arvinmeritor (front axle mfr), and paccar, the corporate headquarters for kenworth and peterbilt, ( manufacturers of class viii tractor-trailers).skf identified manufacturing defects for specific build dates on front axle hub and bearings (wheel bearings) supplied to arvin meritor.as a result, arvinmeritor notified paccar who in turn notified their truck divisions of the defective units.as a result, 220 trucks are being recalled by paccar for defective front axle wheel bearings which may fail in such a way that a wheel separation or wheel bearing fire occurs.see attached summary report and defect reports for additional details.

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10177021Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.
• 10176033Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.
• 10173205Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.
• 10168703Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.
• 10159674Information Only: Proper instructions for closure of power distribution box cover to prevent corrosion.
• 10154733Information: Bendix ACOM Software version 6.16.5.0 for diagnostics may introduce an unrecoverable error. Notice to dealers to replace this version with older software version until Bendix introduces new version.
• 10143649Information - Recommended Practices for Updating ESA Software
• 10027504This bulletin IS to notify dealers of a cummins engine campaign that updates the software for certain isx and ism cummins engines built between 01/01/07 and 12/31/07. This for engines only and truck build dates.
• 601762Some vehicles built between october 1, 1996 and december 31, 1997 with ad-9di or AD-9I extended purge air dryers vehicles may experience a sticking purge valve.
• 52415Vehicles with peterbilt low air leaf and low low air leaf rear suspensions, produced between july 1, 1996 and september 13, 1996 in denton and between july 1, 1996 and september 25, 1996 in nashville were built with a suspension crossbar that may buckle or bend.

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