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Peterbilt 385Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 0 owner complaints and 25 safety recalls on record for the Peterbilt 385.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints0—Safety recalls251996–2016 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Peterbilt 385 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 385 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2016Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2015Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2014Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2013Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2012Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2010Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2008Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls2007Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2005Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls2004Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2003Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2002Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2001Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls1999Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls1998Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1997Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1996Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Peterbilt 385 problems

All model years combined: 0 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
25 recalls

Peterbilt 385 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

91%Other: labels15V-132 · 2006–2016 · Mar 6, 2015 · 213,230 vehicles18%Other: labels13V-593 · 2004–2013 · Nov 25, 2013 · 561 vehicles–Power train: axle assembly10V-634 · 2007–2008 · Dec 13, 2010 · 12,873 vehicles–Service brakes, air: disc08V-431 · 2009 · Aug 25, 2008 · 86 vehicles–Trailer hitches08V-104 · 2007–2009 · Mar 10, 2008 · 318 vehicles–Trailer hitches07V-269 · 2005–2008 · Jun 26, 2007 · 9,571 vehicles–Power train: axle assembly07V-132 · 2007–2008 · Mar 22, 2007 · 245 vehicles–Suspension06V-490 · 2007–2008 · Dec 21, 2006 · 3,246 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling05V-570 · 2004–2006 · Dec 22, 2005 · 30,995 vehicles–Steering05V-543 · 2005–2006 · Nov 29, 2005 · 241 vehicles–Spindle: arm03V-410 · 2003 · Oct 20, 2003 · 1,187 vehicles–Power train: axle hubs03V-288 · 2003 · Aug 6, 2003 · 132 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 25 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 385

  1. Driveshaft separates from tractorPE10029 · 2007–2009 · closed Dec 23, 2010
    Led to recall 10V-634
  2. Horton Fan Hub FailuresEA09008 · 2007 · closed Aug 27, 2010
    No recall