Recall 26V485 covers 5,919 2027 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks for oil-contaminated PDC boxes. Repair will be free at any franchised Peterbilt dealer once available.
Peterbilt is recalling 5,919 2027 trucks, including the 548, 579, T680, and T380, because oil contamination in the power distribution center (PDC) box can cut drive power or disable ABS, lighting, wipers, or defogging. Those failures can increase crash risk, and the dealer repair will be free once Peterbilt opens the remedy.
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What's wrong?
The Power Distribution Center (PDC) box on these 2027 Peterbilt trucks is the electrical hub for critical systems. It uses circuit boards and fuses to route power to the engine, antilock brake system, exterior lights, windshield wipers, and defogging system. When it works normally, those systems get steady power when the truck needs them.
On affected trucks, oil contaminated the PDC box during circuit-board soldering. The source was a damaged air compressor filter that leaked oil into that manufacturing process. Oil on the printed circuit board can interrupt electrical paths inside the box, leading to loss of drive power, ABS function, lighting, wipers, or defogging.
The ABS malfunction warning lamp is the warning sign tied to the brake-system failure mode. For the other failure modes, there is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
Every listed model is tied to the same power distribution box wiring component.
| 2027 Peterbilt 548 | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2027 Peterbilt 579 | wiring |
| 2027 Kenworth T680 | wiring |
| 2027 Kenworth T380 | wiring |
| 2027 Peterbilt 589 | wiring |
| 2027 Peterbilt 567 | wiring |
| 2027 Peterbilt 537 | wiring |
| 2027 Peterbilt 536 | wiring |
| 2027 Kenworth T880 | wiring |
| 2027 Kenworth T480 | wiring |
| 2027 Kenworth T280 | wiring |
| 2027 Kenworth W990 | wiring |
| Units affected | 5,919 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching 2027 truck model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Loss of lighting, windshield wipers, ABS function, or drive power increases crash risk because visibility, braking support, or propulsion can be lost. The ABS malfunction lamp is the warning for ABS issues; the other failure modes have no warning. Schedule service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Peterbilt dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2027 Peterbilt 548, 579, T680, T380, 589, 567, 537, 536, T880, T480, T280, or W990 is included in this recall.
- Watch for Peterbilt's interim owner letter expected September 25, 2026, then the final remedy letter once the repair opens.
- Contact a franchised Peterbilt dealer after the final remedy opens to schedule the free PDC inspection and replacement that fixes the oil-contamination risk.
- Reference recall number 26V485 and Peterbilt recall 26PACD when you call the dealer.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Stop driving and arrange service if the truck loses drive power, lighting, windshield wipers, ABS function, or defogging.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair has not opened yet. Peterbilt expects to mail an interim owner notice on September 25, 2026, then send another notice once the final remedy is ready. When it opens, a Peterbilt technician will inspect the power distribution center serial numbers and replace the PDC boxes that need replacement. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. The manufacturer's general reimbursement plan on file applies to qualifying out-of-pocket repairs already paid before the recall notice. Bring repair records or payment documentation to the service desk so the claim can be reviewed.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 27, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 25, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| September 25, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 25, 2026 | Interim owner notification (planned) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V485?
Recall 26V485 covers 5,919 2027 Peterbilt 548, 579, T680, T380, 589, 567, 537, 536, T880, T480, T280, and W990 vehicles with oil contamination in the power distribution center box. That defect can cause loss of drive power, ABS function, lighting, wipers, or defogging.
What should I do if my 2027 Peterbilt 548, 579, T680, T380, 589, 567, 537, 536, T880, T480, T280, or W990 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V485. If it is, contact a franchised Peterbilt dealer and ask about the power distribution center inspection and replacement. Reference recall number 26V485 and Peterbilt recall number 26PACD when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix this safety defect at no cost. Dealers will inspect the power distribution center serial numbers and replace the power distribution center boxes as needed, free of charge.
Is it safe to drive before recall 26V485 is repaired?
This recall does not include a do-not-drive order. The safety risk is still real: loss of lighting, windshield wipers, ABS function, or drive power can increase crash risk. Check your VIN, then ask the dealer how to handle the vehicle until the repair is complete.
When will owners be notified about recall 26V485?
Interim owner letters are expected to be mailed on September 25, 2026. Those letters notify owners of the safety risk. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, so keep your registration and contact information current with the vehicle brand and dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V485000 |
|---|---|
| Peterbilt customer service | 1-940-591-4220 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V485 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V485000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on August 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →