2020 Peterbilt 579 PACCAR MX-13 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $80,000–$115,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The 579 is Peterbilt's aerodynamic flagship — fuel-efficient, driver-friendly, and equipped with Peterbilt's SmartNav and optional Bendix ADAS. The MX-13 by 2020 is a mature engine with most early issues resolved. Solid choice for a used long-haul truck with modern features.
What we checked
No public record to reconcile against
We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Federal complaint records thin out badly on older vehicles, so there is little to check against. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2020 Peterbilt 579 PACCAR MX-13
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
DEF, DPF, and SCR system failures trigger derate modes. Pre-purchase ECM scan is mandatory.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$4,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
EGR cooler failures on the MX-13 — white smoke and coolant loss are the indicators. By 2020 the cooler design had improved but not eliminated the concern.
Repair cost (estimate): $2,000-$5,000
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Bendix Fusion or OnGuard ADAS requires calibration after windshield replacement. Verify all safety systems active.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$1,500 to calibrate
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Active emissions or engine fault codes on ECM scan
- ✗White smoke or coolant loss — EGR cooler
- ✗ADAS warning lights active
Good Signs
- ✓Peterbilt dealer PM service history
- ✓ECM scan clean
- ✓Long-haul highway miles
- ✓EGR cooler replaced or inspected and documented
Found a specific Peterbilt 579 PACCAR MX-13?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2020 Peterbilt 579 PACCAR MX-13 in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
More from Peterbilt
Similar semi & commercial trucks
2020 Freightliner Cascadia DD15 Sleeper
$80,000–$115,000
2019 Kenworth T680 PACCAR MX-13
$70,000–$100,000
2019 Volvo VNL 64T 760 D13
$68,000–$98,000
2019 Western Star 49X DD16
$90,000–$135,000
2019 Freightliner Cascadia 126 Sleeper
$65,000–$95,000
2018 Mack Anthem MP8
$62,000–$90,000
2018 Kenworth W900 Cummins X15
$95,000–$145,000
2018 International LoneStar A26
$60,000–$88,000
2019 International ProStar Cummins ISX15
$52,000–$78,000
2019 Ford F-650 Super Duty
$42,000–$68,000
2018 Freightliner M2 106 DD8
$35,000–$60,000
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.