Peterbilt VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Class. Pure and Simple.”
Peterbilt Motors Company is an American truck manufacturer headquartered in Denton, Texas, and a division of PACCAR Inc. Founded in 1939 by lumberman T.A. Peterman by acquiring Fageol Truck and Coach Company assets in Oakland, California, Peterbilt was acquired by PACCAR in 1958 and operates as PACCAR's premium-positioned heavy-truck brand alongside sister brand Kenworth.
Peterbilt is renowned for the long-hood Model 379 (1986-2006) and its successor Model 389, which dominate owner-operator and custom-truck segments. The Model 579 highway tractor, Model 567 vocational truck, Model 567 Heritage and Model 579EV battery-electric Class 8 represent the modern lineup. The 567EV / 579EV launched in 2022 as Peterbilt's first battery-electric Class 8 trucks. Peterbilt holds approximately 14-16% of US Class 8 market share alongside Kenworth.
Peterbilt's parent PACCAR trades on the NASDAQ under PCAR. Recall data for every Peterbilt VIN sold in the US is reported to NHTSA. ForCar.org decodes any Peterbilt VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original delivery price.
Peterbilt at a glance
- Founded
- 1939
- Founder
- T.A. Peterman
- Headquarters
- Denton, Texas, USA
- Parent
- PACCAR Inc. (NASDAQ: PCAR, since 1958)
- Sister brand
- Kenworth (PACCAR)
- Iconic model
- Model 379 / 389 (long-hood)
- US Class 8 share
- ~14-16% (with Kenworth siblings)
- First electric
- Model 579EV (2022)
- Basic warranty
- 2 years / 250,000 miles
- Engine warranty
- 5 years / 500,000-750,000 miles
Decode any Peterbilt VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that Peterbilt dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature Peterbilt technology
Peterbilt heritage
Theodore Alfred Al Peterman, owner of a Washington State lumber operation, became frustrated with available trucks for hauling logs in the 1930s and acquired the bankrupt Fageol Truck and Coach Company in Oakland in 1939. The first Peterbilt-built truck rolled out the same year. After Peterman's 1944 death, his widow Ida ran the company until 1958, when PACCAR acquired Peterbilt. The 1986 Model 379 set the modern standard for owner-operator long-hood tractors, succeeded by the Model 389 in 2006.
Market position
Peterbilt competes in the North American Class 8 long-haul, vocational and medium-duty segments against Kenworth (its PACCAR sibling), Freightliner, Volvo, Mack, International and Western Star. The brand's positioning emphasizes premium aluminum-cab construction, classic American long-hood styling and high resale value. Peterbilt and Kenworth share PACCAR engineering, platforms and powertrains but maintain distinct dealer networks and styling. The Model 389 owner-operator truck commands premium pricing and resale values.
New-vehicle warranty
All Peterbilt models (47)
Frequently asked questions
When was Peterbilt founded and by whom?
Peterbilt was founded in 1939 by T.A. Peterman and is headquartered in Denton, USA.
Where is the VIN on a Peterbilt vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many Peterbilt models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 47 Peterbilt nameplates. Any 17-character Peterbilt VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the Peterbilt warranty?
Basic: 2 years / 250,000 miles (varies). Powertrain: 5 years / 500,000-750,000 miles (engine).
How to check Peterbilt recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers Peterbilt Motors (PACCAR division) — not Kenworth Truck Company (the sister PACCAR brand sharing engineering) or Fageol Truck (the 1939 acquired predecessor).
← All brands