What Peterbilt 388 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Peterbilt 388 safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| 2014 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Peterbilt 388 complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Tire size 295 60 22.5 this tire have driven 20000 miles and it came apart loosing the pices. Can cause a accident
PROBLEMS WITH (AFTER TREATMENT)CODES FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE, IMMEDIATELY WENT TO STOP ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AND TRUCK SHUT OFF AT 70MPH. FORTUNATELY NOT ON INCLINE OR DECLINE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SAFETY. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. PETERBILT NOR CUMMINS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE FUEL PUMP COMPLETELY FAILED AND TOOK OUT THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FLAW AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE OLDER TRUCKS THAT STILL HAVE LOW MILES BUT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. WE ARE PERSONALLY AWARE OF 5 ENGINE FAILURES IN THE SAME TIME FRAME OF OURS..ALL CUMMINS ISX15 MOTORS. THESE ENGINES ARE LEMONS. THE AFTER TREATMENT ENGINE…
6 PETERBILT MY COMPANY OPERATES ARE 2014 AND 2015 CAR HAULERS. ALL ARE CONSISTENTLY DESTROYING REAR AXEL TIRES BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER (THREAD IS COMING OUT). DAMAGED SEEMS TO HAPPEN DUE TO OVERHEAT OF TIRES. WE TRIED USING DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES, BUT BLOW OUT DID NOT STOP. WE TOOK TRUCKS TO [XXX] AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THREAD FROM DRIVE TIRE IS COMING OFF AND TIRE STILL HOLDS AIR. IT DAMAGES ALL LIGHTS ON TRUCK THEN IT DAMAGES MUD GUARDS AND BREAKS SAFETY WINGS ON THE TRAILER. EACH TIME COSTS ABOUT 2000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. ONLY SOLUTION WE FOUND AT THIS TIME TO RUN ALL POSITION TIRES ON DRIVE TIRES. SO FAR WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES FOR PAST…
WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR
WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR
WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR
2014 PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULER TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED 25 AT WORK ZONE. PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. ONLY WHEEL TIRE AND COUPLE WIRES DESTROYED THIS TIME. COST MY COMPANY $1000 TOWING, NEW WHEEL $350, NEW TIRES $800... AND COUPLE THOUSAND MORE ON OTHER ITEMS. TRUCK WAS ABOUT 76000 POUNDS. FRONT AXEL WAS 11800. *TR
2014 PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULER. PASSENGER SIDE 2014 MICHELIN XZA 275/70/R22.5 BLEW UP. TRUCK LOST POWER HOOD WAS RIPPED APART. WHEEL, DOOR, HOOD, ELECTRICAL, AIR INTAKE DESTROYED. WAITING FOR INSURANCE TO COVER ANY DAMAGE. SO FAR HAVE SPEND OVER 20,000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. TRUCK WAS TRAVELING 73 MPH FRONT WEIGHT 11200. TIRE HAD AROUND 18000 MILES. *TR
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
"Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. Peterbilt: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."
Info Only Unnecessary starter replacements can result from customer complaints regarding engine starting issues. A new Starter Troubleshooting Guide has been created to provide a comprehensive list of starting system checks, which should reduce unnecessary starter replacements and associated warranty claims. Engine starting system warranty claims now require a completed Starter Checklist, a Battery Pack Midtronics Report, and a Cable Drop Midtronics Report. Claims filed without these documents may be denied.
Fix-As-Fail The window switch fails prematurely due to excessive amperage flowing through the window switch circuit. A new door harness design has been developed to prevent failures. Fix-As-Fail start date is 11/11/2024.
An engine software defect exists in certain vehicles equipped with EMY17 MX-13 and MX-11 engines that pertains to timer action and count calibrations for a time-based diagnostic. This diagnostic action checks fuel pressure and has no negative impact on tailpipe emissions. This soft ware may incorrectly set DTC âÃÂàP1092.
Info Only - PACCAR is introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates for engine MY17 and newer chassis equipped with Cummins X15, X12, ISX12, ISX12N, L9N, PX-7, and PX-9 engines The technology will leverage the existing Remote Diagnostic cs hardware to deliver secure software updates remotely. This will reduce downtime and save on maintenance costs for eligible vehicles.
The service information for Bendix Air Dryer maintenance is being updated to include new procedures.
Due to major data carriers phasing out 3G networks, chassis currently utilizing first generation Peoplenet Mobile Gateway (PMG001) will experience severe 3G service degradation as early as January of 2022. Chassis currently utilizing 3G antennas as a primary antenna may experience this degradation.
Information Only: Due to differences between the PACCAR MX-11 or MX-13 2021A and 2021B engines, technicians must be able to identify which of these engines are in a chassis.
Fix-As-Fail â Due to undersupply issues, only a limited supply of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensors are available. As a temporary solution, after PACCAR confirms a DEF sensor is not available, a temporary software update will allow a vehicle to continue operation with a failed DEF sensor by disabling the DEF sensor diagnostics.
Information Only - Power steering reservoir cap may separate during removal when it is pulled upward instead of twisted.
Information Only â Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.
Fix as Fail: Peterbilt has introduced an improved mounting bracket for low mount air tanks for vehicles built between January 01, 2017 and July 06, 2020. Torsional vibration may stress the currently-installed brackets and cause them to fail near the bottom of the frame rail.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-015) based on one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) and supporting fleet reports. The reports indicated that the subject quarter fenders were prone to cracking and/or separation.After a comprehensive review of the data related to the quarter fender failures on the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the existence of a safety-related defect trend. Quarter fender failures resulted in a warranty claim rate less th
On May 1, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE20006 to investigate complaints of intermittent loss of power steering assist in Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), Volvo Trucks of North America (Volvo) and PACCAR vehicles equipped with a ZF/TRW (TRW) THP60 steering gear. The investigation focused on 2010-2020 DTNA Freightliner Cascadia, M2 and WST; Volvo VN, VAH and VHD and PACCAR 337, 365, 389, 567, 579 model vehicles.Field reports and interviews with fleet drivers allege
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2021, owners most often name: tires, wheels, structure. 21 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.