2000 Peterbilt 357 problems & reliability
19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Peterbilt 357, alongside 7 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2000 Peterbilt 357 vehicles were involved in 5 fatal crashes with 0 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 37% |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 32% |
| Suspension | 6 | 32% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
What owners report
“Peterbilt truck # 55. Front steering lines are routed incorrectly and have started to wear through because of rubbing. Dealer has been notified.*ak”
Steering · filed Apr 25, 2001
“Peterbilt truck # 53. Front steering lines are routed incorrectly and have started to wear through because of rubbing. Dealer has been notified. *ak”
Steering · filed Apr 25, 2001
“Peterbilt truck # 55. Air lines have no insulation, causing lines to rub through frame and wear. Dealer has been notified.*ak”
Service Brakes, Air · filed Apr 25, 2001
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
9 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2000 Peterbilt 357.
Information Only â Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.
02-160 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 10, 2021
Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with…
32-015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 8, 2020
Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.
11-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 29, 2020
Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.
32-016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 17, 2020
Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.
01-075 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 6, 2019
Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs.
34-066 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 10, 2019
Information Only: Proper instructions for closure of power distribution box cover to prevent corrosion.
34-077 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 8, 2019
Information: Bendix ACOM Software version 6.16.5.0 for diagnostics may introduce an unrecoverable error. Notice to dealers to replace this version with older software version until Bendix introduces new version.
13-049 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 4, 2019
Information - Recommended Practices for Updating ESA Software
03-064 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 23, 2018
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2000 Peterbilt 357 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2000 Peterbilt 357?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.