Nearly 6,000 trucks from Peterbilt and Kenworth, both owned by parent company Paccar, have been recalled after an electrical defect was discovered that could disable critical safety components.
According to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the trucks may have oil-contaminated power distribution center (PDC) boxes.
This defect could be responsible for:
- Loss of driver power
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS) failures
- Exterior lighting problems
- Windshield wiper or defroster failures
Initial reports indicate that a damaged air compressor filter caused an oil leak during the circuit board soldering process at supplier PKC Group North America’s manufacturing facility.

How can I tell if my truck has the defect?
If the fault affects the ABS system, the ABS malfunction warning light will turn on. For the other components, there is no warning indicator, meaning the driver won’t be able to detect the risk in advance.
Which Paccar truck models are affected by the defect?
The recall covers 5,919 units of the 2027 model year, built between June and July. Fewer than 1% of the total units are estimated to actually have the defect. The affected models are:
- Kenworth T680
- Kenworth T880
- Kenworth W900
- Kenworth T480
- Kenworth T380
- Peterbilt 579
- Peterbilt 589
- Peterbilt 567
- Peterbilt 537
- Peterbilt 536
- Peterbilt 548
Dealers will inspect PDC serial numbers and replace the PDC boxes as needed, at no cost to the owner.

Timeline of the recall
- July 13: Paccar’s safety and regulatory compliance team was notified of the issue.
- About a week later: the regulatory non-compliance was confirmed.
- As of July 27: no warranty claims or field reports had been filed. No injuries related to the defect have been reported.
- September 25: a letter will be sent to owners of affected trucks informing them of the safety risk. A second letter will follow once the final repair solution is available.
Where can I get my Paccar truck inspected in Washington?
Affected trucks must be inspected — and the power distribution center (PDC) box replaced if necessary — at an authorized Kenworth or Peterbilt dealer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NHTSA recall number? The NHTSA recall number is 26V485. Paccar’s internal recall number is 26PACD.
Who do I call if I have an affected Peterbilt truck? Peterbilt customer service: 940-591-4220.
Who do I call if I have an affected Kenworth truck? Kenworth customer service: 425-828-5888.
Is the inspection free? Yes. Inspection and replacement of the power distribution center (PDC) box are free of charge.
Which trucks are included in the recall? 2027-model trucks built between June and July: Kenworth T680, T880, W900, T480, T380, and Peterbilt 579, 589, 567, 537, 536, and 548.
