- The problem
- On certain trucks equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.
- The risk
- Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace all front axle hubs. Notification began july 16, 2003. The manufacturer has advised us that parts will not be available until september 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy with a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 940-591-4201 or kenworth 425-828-5440.
Vehicle safety record
2000 Peterbilt 385 Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2000 Peterbilt 385 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 7 recalls, the latest in April 2003 for the hub.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 385 year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2000 Peterbilt 385 recalls 7
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain arvinmeritor and dana axles. Peterbilt will recall 1,434 vehicles equipped with arvinmeritor axles manufactured from december 11, 1999, to may 14, 2000, and from july 22 to september 30, 2000. Kenworth will recall 859 vehicles equipped with arvinmeritor vehicles manufactured from december 11, 1999, to may 23, 2000, and from july 27, 2000, to september 30, 2000 and kennworth will recall an additional 4,151 vehicles equipped with dana axles and manufactured from june 23 to december 6, 1999, and from may 23 to september 30, 2000. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness.
- The risk
- This can lead to premature wear with possible separation of the ball stud from the socket, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends. Owner notification began july 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201 or kenworth at 1-425-828-5440.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with trw tie rod ends on certain meritor axles. The tie rod and drag link ball stud ends contain bearings that are below the specified case depth and/or hardness.
- The risk
- This can lead to premature wear with possible separation of the ball stud from the socket, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends. Owner notification began october 24, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000 or kenworth at 1-425-828-5000.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. A change in the internal linkage of certain cab doors has created a possible binding condition.
- The risk
- If the linkage binds, full engagement of the door latch may not occur, allowing the door to open inadvertently.
- The fix
- Dealers will modify the door linkage to correct the potential of binding. Owner notification began june 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with chalmers 1000 series and 800 series suspension kits. These suspension kits may have insufficient penetration of the weld attaching the torque rod eye to the torque rod tube.
- The risk
- Failure of the weld could result in separation of the eye and tube, causing a lock of axle retention, which could result in loss of vehicle control.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace all chalmers fixed torque rods on these vehicles. Owner notification began july 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000 or kenworth at 1-425-828-5000.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The bolts used to secure the steering shaft can fail.
- The risk
- This condition can result in the loss of vehicle control without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the defective bolts. Owner notification began april 2, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: class 7 and class 8 vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 207, "Seating system," and no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages." Some fasteners used to attach the shoulder belt anchor bracket to the cab structure were omitted during production.
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, the shoulder belt anchorage may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will add the necessary fasteners. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2000 Peterbilt 385 yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Peterbilt 385: every year compared
All 385 years2000 Peterbilt 385 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Peterbilt 385 | 0 | 7 | F | |
| 2000 Peterbilt 357 | 19 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2000 Peterbilt 379 | 12 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2000 Peterbilt 377 | 3 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2000 Peterbilt 379XL | 3 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2000 Peterbilt Peterbilt | 2 | 0 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2000 Peterbilt 385
Does the 2000 Peterbilt 385 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2000 Peterbilt 385: hub (April 2003); tie rod assembly (July 2002); tie rod assembly (August 2001); latch (June 2001) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2000 Peterbilt 385 had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2000 Peterbilt 385 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 13 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Peterbilt 385 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2000 Peterbilt 385 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data