23 NHTSA safety recalls cover the Peterbilt 520, across model years 1990–2026. 1 carry a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Every recall repair is free at any Peterbilt dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your 520 by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
The 2020 Peterbilt 520 has the most recalls (12) and the most owner complaints (3).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each Peterbilt 520 model year on this page. Complaints: owner reports filed with NHTSA for that model year, including trims and variants sold under the model name (e.g. an F-150 page counts F-150 Raptor). Separate scales: compare the shape, not the heights across panels.
| Model year | Recalls | Owner complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | no data |
| 2003 | 1 | no data |
| 2004 | 1 | no data |
| 2005 | 1 | no data |
| 2006 | 1 | no data |
| 2007 | 1 | no data |
| 2008 | 1 | no data |
| 2009 | 1 | no data |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 |
| 2020 | 12 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
What these recalls fix, grouped by the vehicle system NHTSA files them under:
PACCAR is recalling certain 2024-2026 Peterbilt 520 trucks with potential steering cross-shaft failure causing loss of control. Owners must contact dealers for free repair.
PACCAR recalls 2025 Kenworth T380 trucks with delayed headlights and lift axle issues that could cause crashes or injuries. Owners must update software by contacting dealers or customer service.
PACCAR recalls 2022-2025 Kenworth T680 trucks with electrical system issue that may cause sudden loss of drive power, increasing crash risk. Free software update and harness replacement available.
PACCAR is recalling certain 2021-2025 Kenworth T380 trucks with faulty ECU software that may cause safety systems to fail, increasing crash risk. Owners must contact dealers for free reprogramming.
PACCAR is recalling Kenworth T880 (2025) trucks with steering issues that could cause loss of control and crashes. Owners must contact dealers for free repairs by January 21, 2025.
When the Peterbilt 520 recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the Peterbilt 520; the most reported area is service brakes. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
See Peterbilt 520 complaints, TSBs and investigations by year →
We have 23 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the Peterbilt 520, covering model years 1990–2026. The most recent was issued Jan 19, 2026 (Steering).
The 2020 Peterbilt 520 has the most, with 12 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Steering (10), Exterior Lighting (2), Electrical System (2), Service Brakes, Air (2).
1 of these recalls carry an NHTSA do-not-drive or park-outside warning. If your vehicle is covered by one, follow it until the repair is done and ask the dealer about a tow or loaner. Most other recalls let you keep driving, but book the repair promptly.
Run a VIN recall check: enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact year, then confirm at NHTSA.gov which are still unrepaired on your vehicle. Any Peterbilt dealer can also look it up.
Yes. Federal law requires Peterbilt to fix safety recalls free of charge at any authorized Peterbilt dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had.