- 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
1999 Peterbilt 387 Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1999 Peterbilt 387 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 7 recalls, the latest in April 2003 for the hub.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical 387 year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1999 Peterbilt 387 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. These vehicles are equipped with peterbilt's smartgage system containing a reduced function interface module (rfim). This module receives data from various components/systems on the vehicle then sends the information to a microprocessor. A manufacturing defect in the rfim's can allow water to penetrate into the pressure block portion of the module, causing an electrical short in the pressure transducer connector.
- The risk
- This results in an erroneous air pressure reading on the gauge in the dash.
- The fix
- The rfim date code will be inspected and all rfim's built prior to september 9, 2000 will be replaced. Owner notification began june 13, 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 tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.
- The risk
- If this condition occurs, the driver can lose partial control of the right front wheel, possibly resulting in a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began on april 10, 2001, to kenworth owners and on April 25, 2001, to peterbilt owners. 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 kenworth at 1-425-828-5000, peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000 or trw customer service at 1-866-280-3287.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The side fairing hinge bar and mounts can detach from the fuel tank straps. The hinge bar can rotate and separate from the fairing, allowing the hinge bar assembly to fall off of the vehicle.
- The risk
- This could cause a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will install an additional nut plate and if the bracket is cracked, the fuel tank strap will be replaced with a new strap and bracket assembly.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. There is an interference between the throttle pedal and the brake pedal.
- The risk
- The brake pedal may not operate as intended, resulting in greater brake pedal effort and/or delayed brake release.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the throttle pedal bracket.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1999 Peterbilt 387 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 387: every year compared
All 387 years1999 Peterbilt 387 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Peterbilt 387 | 0 | 7 | D | |
| 1999 Peterbilt 379 | 5 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 1999 Peterbilt Peterbilt | 3 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 1999 Peterbilt 330 | 1 | 6 | F | 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 1999 Peterbilt 387
Does the 1999 Peterbilt 387 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 1999 Peterbilt 387: hub (April 2003); tie rod assembly (July 2002); tie rod assembly (August 2001); wiring (April 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 1999 Peterbilt 387 had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1999 Peterbilt 387 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 25 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Peterbilt 387 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.
Which Peterbilt 387 years have the most complaints?
2008 (4), 2001 (2), 2005 (2). See every Peterbilt 387 year compared.
What should I do if my 1999 Peterbilt 387 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