problem
The stereo bus can exceed the true-peak ceiling before the file is printed.
The mix bus adds every track, send, and return into one stereo signal. That sum can create fast peaks that are higher than the visible sample points.
Bus EQ, saturation, clipping, and limiting can all reshape the waveform enough to trigger true-peak overs even when sample peak looks acceptable.
Bypass final processors one at a time and compare sample peak, true peak, and loudness. If true peak rises after an EQ or saturator, the limiter may need more margin later.
Also check the rendered file, because export settings and sample-rate conversion can change the final true-peak reading.
Lower the final ceiling, reduce aggressive bus clipping, or rebalance the elements that create the largest summed peaks.
Meter Core keeps true-peak overs visible while you decide whether the issue is mix balance, bus processing, or final limiting.