U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Peterbilt PETERBILT: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

3 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	1	33.3%
Fuel system concerns	1	33.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1997

1999

1997: 1; 1999: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 520678 · 1997-08-07 (August 7, 1997)

STRAP ON FUEL TANK BROK, CAUSING GAS LEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 520678 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 544151 · 1999-03-01 (March 1, 1999)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 544151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 609864 · 1999-07-28 (July 28, 1999)

BATTERY CABLES RUBBING FRAME AND TRANS EXTERNAL FILTER CAUSED DRAW AND SUPER HEATING OF WIRES AND ALMOST RESULTED IN FIRE. MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 609864 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 3 records

33.3%Valid incident date1 / 3 records

100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records

33.3%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 3 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1989	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2003
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 545049 VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. MJS Look up ODI 545049 at NHTSA ↗	480.0% ODI 608503 VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. MJS Look up ODI 608503 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Tires	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 515871 VEHICLE LOST REAR DUAL TIRES ON TRAILER, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) Look up ODI 515871 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 520235 WHILE DRIVING TWO RIGHT REAR TIRES FELL OFF. Look up ODI 520235 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 729692 THERE WERE AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT SEMI TRACTORS FROM THIS DEALERSHIP THAT HAD STEER TIRE BLOW OUTS. THIS TIRE WAS SENT TO BRIDGESTONE FOR ANALYSIS ( CORP. OFFICES IN TENN.) . BRIDGESTONES REPLY WAS THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO HAVE DROVE OVER SOMETHING SHARP TO CAUSE THE BLOW OUT. A TIRE DEALER IN SIOUX FALLS,SD. WHO SELLS BRIDGESTONE TRUCK TIRES TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN A "TIRE SEPERATION" LIKE THIS WHERE THE TREAD PEALED OFF FROM THE CASING. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE IF YOU WOULD LIKE PRINTS PLEASE CALL (605)627-9394 .… Look up ODI 729692 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 10244817 DRIVER OF 2000 PETERBILT CONVENTIONAL HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRAILER. NJ OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0340-89. JB Look up ODI 10244817 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 609863 BATTERY CABLES RUBBING FRAME AND TRANS EXTERNAL FILTER CAUSED DRAW AND SUPER HEATING OF WIRES RESULTED IN FIRE. MJS Look up ODI 609863 at NHTSA ↗	133.3% ODI 609864 BATTERY CABLES RUBBING FRAME AND TRANS EXTERNAL FILTER CAUSED DRAW AND SUPER HEATING OF WIRES AND ALMOST RESULTED IN FIRE. MJS Look up ODI 609864 at NHTSA ↗	250.0% ODI 547578 BATTERY CABLES RUBBING FRAME AND TRANS EXTERNAL FILTER CAUSED DRAW AND SUPER HEATING OF WIRES AND ALMOST RESULTED IN FIRE. MJS Look up ODI 547578 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Axle Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10024570 · 300,000 mi CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S LEFT AXLE SNAPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK Look up ODI 10024570 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 557981 WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE AND ROLLED ONTO THE INSIDE BEEM, DUE TO POSSIBLE WHEEL LUG NUT FAILURE OR AXLE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS Look up ODI 557981 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Tires:Tread/Belt	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	233.3% ODI 10127277 · 205,722 mi DT: CALLER SAID A TIRE BLEW OUT AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL. CALLER DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT'S NAME AT THE MANUFACTURER WAS WINIFRED BISHOP, AND THE FILE # 05020037. THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE CLAIM SERVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURER IS [phone removed]. MANUFACTURER 'S PHONE NUMBER IS [phone removed] EXT. CALLER BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY.*AK Look up ODI 10127277 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 558662 THE RECAPPED MICHELIN (385/65R22,5 XYZ 15R22,5 OR18) TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT THAT LED TO INJURY. FIRE FROM FUEL LEAKAGE AS A RESULT OF CRASH, DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE FROM DEBRIS. (GREENFIELD POLICE DEPT. REPORTED INCIDENT) *MJS Look up ODI 558662 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 549734 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER INCLUDED POWER STEERING, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE LOAD SHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS Look up ODI 549734 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	1100.0% ODI 502634 BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)*SD Look up ODI 502634 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 833080 WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING AND SHAKING REAL HARD. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE SAME THING HAPPENS, AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER CONSUMER HITS A BUMP CAN HEAR THE KNOCKING NOISE. CONSUMER STATES SOME PART'S FROM THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE COMING OFF, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES FOR REPAIRS. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK Look up ODI 833080 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 10093748 1994 PETERBILT DUMP TRUCK. ELECTRICAL SHORT NEAR STARTER MOTOR. FIRE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED. *NM Look up ODI 10093748 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2001: 1 complaints · 2003: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2001	1	1	1
2003	1	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2001	1	0	0
2003	0	1	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting	Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables	—	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting	0	—	0
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 33.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 520678

STRAP ON FUEL TANK BROK, CAUSING GAS LEAK.

Look up ODI 520678 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1997	1
1999	2