Peterbilt Trucks Recalled for an Air Brake Defect

PACCAR Recalls Peterbilt Trucks Over Brake Air Volume Defect

PACCAR Incorporated has issued a safety recall for select 2026 Peterbilt trucks after federal officials found that certain vehicles were built with air tanks that do not meet required air brake capacity standards. The recall affects 62 trucks across two models and was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on November 17, 2025.

What Triggered the Peterbilt Recall

NHTSA documents show that the affected trucks were equipped with air tanks that do not provide enough air volume for the brake system. This shortfall means the vehicles fail to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, which outlines performance requirements for air brake systems.

PACCAR traced the issue to a programming error that misidentified the type of brake chamber installed on the trucks. This error produced an incorrect calculation for the total air capacity needed. Because the air volume was between 3.7% and 8.9% below the required level, the service brakes may not perform as intended. Reduced brake performance can increase the risk of a crash, especially in situations where steady braking is needed.

PACCAR noted that no injuries, crashes, or warranty claims linked to the defect have been reported.

Peterbilt Models and Dates Included in the Recall

The recall impacts two models from the 2026 model year:

• Peterbilt 567
  Production window: February 11, 2025 – September 10, 2025
  Units involved: 57 trucks
• Peterbilt 589
  Production window: April 3, 2025 – April 9, 2025
  Units involved: 5 trucks

Each affected truck was equipped with a 20K steerable pusher axle, which influenced the air volume calculation that later proved incorrect.

How PACCAR Identified the Brake Issue

On October 1, 2025, PACCAR’s engineering team notified its Safety and Compliance group about a possible air-volume problem. Engineers confirmed the affected population over the next several weeks.

By November 11, 2025, PACCAR’s Safety Committee determined that a regulatory noncompliance existed, leading to the recall being filed with NHTSA. During this time, the company reported zero related incidents in the field.

Remedy Plan for Peterbilt Owners

To correct the issue, PACCAR will install updated air tanks that provide the correct air capacity required by FMVSS 121. Depending on the truck, repairs may include replacing current air tanks with larger tanks or adding additional tanks to increase total volume.

All repairs will be completed free of charge. Notification letters for owners of affected trucks are expected to begin mailing on January 16, 2026.

Peterbilt customer service can be reached at 1-940-591-4220, and the recall is listed under PACCAR’s internal reference number 25PACH.

No Advance Warning for Truck Drivers

NHTSA notes that drivers would not receive any specific warning about this defect. The trucks do not provide alerts or dashboard messages tied to low air-reservoir capacity, making the issue difficult to detect without inspection. This underscores the importance of completing the recall repair when owners receive their notifications.

Compliance Steps for the Recall

NHTSA’s recall acknowledgment outlines the required reporting steps PACCAR must follow. These include submitting owner notification letters before mailing, reporting quarterly recall progress for eight consecutive quarters, and then filing three annual updates after that period.

PACCAR has already corrected the programming error responsible for the miscalculation, ensuring that future Peterbilt production includes accurate air-volume calculations.

What Peterbilt Owners and Fleets Should Do Next

Although the number of affected units is relatively small, the recalled trucks may already be operating across the country. Owners of 2026 Peterbilt 567 or 589 models should expect recall notices early next year and schedule repairs once they receive official notification.

Owners can also use their vehicle identification number (VIN) to check recall status through NHTSA’s online lookup tool once the VINs are added to the database. Additional information is available through the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or the agency’s website at nhtsa.gov.