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Peterbilt 389Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 23 owner complaints and 48 safety recalls on record for the Peterbilt 389.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints23Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls482004–2025 model years

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

Best & worst years

Peterbilt 389 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 389 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2025Too new–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2024Not rated–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls2023Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls2022Not rated–/1004 complaints · 7 recalls2021Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls2020Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2019Not rated–/1003 complaints · 6 recalls2018Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls2017Not rated–/1001 complaint · 7 recalls2016Not rated–/1000 complaints · 8 recalls2015Not rated–/1007 complaints · 10 recalls2014Not rated–/1001 complaint · 7 recalls2013Not rated–/1000 complaints · 8 recalls2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 9 recalls2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls2010Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 12 recalls2008Not rated–/1003 complaints · 12 recalls2007Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2005Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2004Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Peterbilt 389 problems

All model years combined: 23 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
Electrical system50
Wheels40
Tires41
Structure32
Engine20
Service brakes20
Steering20
Electronic stability control (ESC)20
Vehicle speed control10
7 other systems71
48 recalls

Peterbilt 389 recalls

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

76%Electrical system: software24V-915 · 2021–2025 · Dec 9, 2024 · 220,764 vehicles56%Spindle: arm24V-908 · 2024 · Dec 3, 2024 · 68 vehicles52%Lever and linkage: column shift24V-190 · 2021–2024 · Mar 20, 2024 · 70,509 vehicles85%Steering24V-044 · 2024–2025 · Jan 25, 2024 · 45,887 vehicles94%Spindle: arm24V-043 · 2024 · Jan 25, 2024 · 68 vehicles71%Linkages: tie rod assembly22V-782 · 2023 · Oct 18, 2022 · 79 vehicles77%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel22V-779 · 2022–2023 · Oct 17, 2022 · 74,730 vehicles61%Engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm)22V-631 · 2023 · Aug 17, 2022 · 1,601 vehicles76%Steering22V-547 · 2022–2023 · Jul 28, 2022 · 47,500 vehicles56%Steering: critical fasteners22V-277 · 2018–2020 · Apr 25, 2022 · 17,641 vehicles47%Electrical system: software21V-906 · 2019–2022 · Nov 19, 2021 · 908 vehicles63%Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings21V-648 · 2021–2022 · Aug 19, 2021 · 163 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 48 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 389

  1. Quarter Fender FailuresPE20015 · 2017–2019 · closed Oct 14, 2021
    No recall
  2. Intermittent Loss of Power Steering AssistPE20006 · 2015–2019 · closed Mar 27, 2024
    No recall
  3. Driveshaft separates from tractorPE10029 · 2007–2009 · closed Dec 23, 2010
    Led to recall 10V-634
  4. Horton Fan Hub FailuresEA09008 · 2008 · closed Aug 27, 2010
    No recall