- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
- The risk
- If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
Vehicle safety record
2009 Peterbilt 387 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2009 Peterbilt 387 with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (1) and the steering (1). It is covered by 9 recalls, the latest in April 2020 for the electronic stability control (ESC). For comparison, the 2008 has 4 and the 2010 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 387 year, for its age
#315 most complained-about 2009 vehicle
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2009 Peterbilt 387 problems
Share of all 2 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2009 Peterbilt 387 recalls 9
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
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2006-2016 Peterbilt 587, 579, 567, 389, 388, 387, 385, 382, 379, 378, 367, 365 and 357 trucks manufactured July 25, 2005, to February 26, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with Tire and Rim Certification Labels that list a tire pressure below the actual correct amount. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, "Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds)."
- The 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 rating (GVWR) load listed without experiencing tire failure which would increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Peterbilt will notify owners and mail them a corrected Tire and Rim certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-D.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 kenworth c500, t2000, t600, and t660, as well as model year 2009-2011 peterbilt 387 and 388 trucks equipped with caterpillar c15 engine and manufactured from may 11, 2006, through september 17, 2010. Degradation of a combustion tube weld can cause radial heat impingement on the body which may burn through certain bodies used on c15 engines.
- The risk
- THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- The fix
- Caterpillar is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Please see caterpillar's defect report 11e-006. Caterpillar will replace the single piece combustion tube with a thick wall combustion tube which will not allow the heat to break through. This service will be performed free of charge. Due to a parts supply issue, owners will be notified by the end of april 2011 about the safety defect, and will then be notified again once the free remedy is available, currently estimated to be around late july 2011. Owners may contact caterpillar toll-free at 1-800-447-4986.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 kenworth t2000, t660, t700, t800, and w900, as well as model year 2009-2012 peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, and 587 trucks equipped with paccar mx engines. The oil module centrifugal spinner filter cap in the paccar mx engine may become loose, possibly allowing the cap to come off and engine oil to partially discharge from the oil module onto exhaust components.
- The risk
- The discharge of engine oil onto exhaust components which are hot, such as when the engine is under significant load, may cause a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will re-torque the oil module filter cap and install a secondary retention device on the secondary centrifugal spinner filter cap. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during march 2011. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 and peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 trucks equipped with trw steering shafts. The circumferential weld around the steering shaft tube that welds the splined tube to the non-splined tube may be mislocated. Mislocation of the circumferential weld may allow the splined tube and non-splined tube to rotate relative to one another during a low speed, high torque turn, possibly resulting in a separation of the two tubes.
- The risk
- A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes would cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the steering shaft using a weld placement gauge provided by trw. Any steering shaft found to have been welded improperly will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall began on july 30, 2010. Owners may contact kenworth at 425-828-5440 and peterbilt at 940-591-4196.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling 2,096 my 2009 kenworth and peterbilt vehicles equipped with trw steering shafts. Mislocation of a circumferential weld may allow the splined tube and non-splined tube to rotate relative to one another during a low speed, high torque turn, possibly resulting in a separation of the two tubes.
- The risk
- A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes could cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the steering shaft using a weld placement gauge and miswelded steering shaft will be replaced free of charge. The recall began july 31, 2009. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 and peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling 1098 kenworth my 2008 t800, w900, my 2008-2009 t2000 and peterbilt my 2007-2009 379 and 387 trucks equipped with c15 caterpillar diesel engines. The aftertreatment regeneration device (ard) may develop a hole and heat and flame may escape during a regeneration of the diesel particulate filter.
- The risk
- THIS MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.
- The fix
- Paccar is working with caterpillar and will inspect and remedy the engines free of charge. Owners may contact caterpillar at 1-800-447-4986, kenworth at 425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 940-591-4196.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling 4,883 my 2006-2009 kenworth t600, t660, t800, w900, t2000 and my 2008-2009 peterbilt 365, 367, 379, 384, 386, 387, 388 and 389 trucks. Inadequate stiffness of the diesel particulate filter (dpf) bracket could result in separation of the dpf from the chassis.
- The risk
- A vehicle crash could occur if another vehicle strikes the dpf on the roadway.
- The fix
- Paccar is working with caterpillar to repair these vehicles (please see 08e041). Owners may contact caterpillar at 1-800-447-4986 or kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
- The problem
- Paccar is recalling 6,169 my 2008 kenworth t300, t660, t800, t2000, w900 and c500 vehicles and my 2008-2009 peterbilt models 365, 367, 384, 387, 388, 389 and 389 kits. Certain door latch assemblies on these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 206, 'Door locks and door retention components." The rotor in some of these door latch assemblies did not receive the proper heat treatment and may be soft.
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, force could cause the rotor to crack and the door would not have primary or secondary closing security which could possibly lead to injury of the vehicle occupant.
- The fix
- Paccar is working with trimark and will inspect and replace the door latch if it is found to be defective. The recall began on march 14, 2008. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
What owners say
Be the first 387 owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
2 complaints about the 2009 Peterbilt 387
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 peterbilt conventional 387. The contact stated that the dps filter failed to work and that the system was running hot. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who cleaned the filter, updated the software to the dpf, and reprogrammed the dps software but the failure recurred with the system indicating that it was running hot. The vehicle was to be taken back to the dealer for further inspection. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v203000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 400,000.
Steering linkage is a critical failure in the peterbilt 387. I have a 2009 model, and only 4 months old, it now makes scary popping and creaking noise. From my understanding from other drivers of the same model vehicle, steering seizes to the right or left making it hard to break it loose. My opinion is that paccar needs to modify and improve the steering components. For me, the popping and creaking noise gets louder and louder every day. I'm thinking its the material used that's a complete fail. Peterbilt isn't...
Read the full complaint
willing to honor their mistake on my truck, telling me this is normal. Please do look into this component. Peoples lives are at risk when it comes to an 80,000lb road hazard. Thanks. *Tr
Peterbilt 387: every year compared
All 387 years2009 Peterbilt 387 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Peterbilt 387 | 2 | 9 | F | |
| 2009 Peterbilt 335 | 2 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2009 Peterbilt 386 | 1 | 10 | D | 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 2009 Peterbilt 387
Does the 2009 Peterbilt 387 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2009 Peterbilt 387: electronic stability control (ESC) (April 2020); labels (March 2015); engine and engine cooling (March 2011); tank assembly (February 2011) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Peterbilt 387?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (1), steering (1).
How many complaints has the 2009 Peterbilt 387 had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 13, 2008 and the latest on June 11, 2015. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2009 Peterbilt 387 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 17 out of 100 (grade F: far 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 2009 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