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2014 Peterbilt 388Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 17 owner complaints about the 2014 Peterbilt 388, most often about the tires. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-283 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls8Lowest repair rate 22%Owner complaints177 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage122kTires, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 6, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2014 Peterbilt 388 has problems

17 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
Tires127
Wheels80
Structure21
Fuel/propulsion system10
Electrical system10
Engine and engine cooling11
Engine10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

8 recalls

2014 Peterbilt 388 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

27%repaired · 2022 Q1

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Recall 20V-199 · Apr 6, 2020 · 460,515 vehicles · 125,765 repaired

Risk. If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

30%repaired · 2017 Q2

Tires

Recall 15V-740 · Nov 9, 2015 · 1,876 vehicles · 555 repaired

Risk. Higher vehicle speeds and other factors such as tire load and road temperatures may result in premature tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

65%repaired · 2016 Q4

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Recall 15V-456 · Jul 22, 2015 · 288 vehicles · 187 repaired

Risk. If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

91%repaired · 2016 Q3

Other: labels

Recall 15V-132 · Mar 6, 2015 · 213,230 vehicles · 194,366 repaired

Risk. If the tires are underinflated due to the incorrect inflation pressure listed on the label, the truck may not be able to carry the maximum gross vehicle weight…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 4 more recalls
80%repaired · 2017 Q3

Linkages: tie rod assembly

Recall 15V-108 · Feb 24, 2015 · 5,141 vehicles · 4,124 repaired

Risk. Undertorqued tie rod end clamp bolts are susceptible to corrosion, which may cause loose bolts to separate resulting in a loss of vehicle control and an…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

22%repaired · 2015 Q4

Air bags

Recall 14V-283 · May 29, 2014 · 1,705 vehicles · 381 repaired

Risk. Without a warning of a problem existing in the side air bag system, the driver may continue to operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury from the side…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

59%repaired · 2015 Q2

Seat belts

Recall 14V-013 · Jan 24, 2014 · 10,414 vehicles · 6,130 repaired

Risk. If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Peterbilt.

Best & worst years

2014 vs. every other 388 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 388 median. How we score

'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What 388 owners report

Recent tires complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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.…
Complaint 10658768 · Nov 18, 2014
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.…
Complaint 10658766 · Nov 18, 2014
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…
Complaint 10658763 · Nov 18, 2014 · 165,000 miles

Own a 2014 388?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.