- 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
2014 Peterbilt 388 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2014 Peterbilt 388 with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (16) and the body, doors & structure (2). Those complaints describe 7 crashes. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in April 2020 for the electronic stability control (ESC). For comparison, the 2013 has 0 and the 2015 has 3.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 388 year, for its age
#202 most complained-about 2014 vehicle
- Complaints
- 17
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 7
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2014 Peterbilt 388 problems
Share of all 17 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2014 Peterbilt 388 recalls 8
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 2009-2010 Peterbilt 340, 2010, 2012, and 2015-2016 Peterbilt 337, 2010 Peterbilt 335, 2011-2016 Peterbilt 348, 2009 and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 365, 2009 and 2012-2013 Peterbilt 386, 2009-2015 Peterbilt 388, 2015-2016 Peterbilt 389, and 2015 Peterbilt 567 auto hauler vehicles. The affected trucks are equipped with Michelin 295/60R22.5 XZA-2 front tires that have a speed rating less than the vehicle is governed to.
- The 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.
- The fix
- Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine's vehicle speed parameters to limit the maximum vehicle speed to the tire speed rating, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 1115P.
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
- The risk
- If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 715-K.
- 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 Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Peterbilt 320, 365, 367, 388, and 389 trucks manufactured July 21, 2008, to February 28, 2014. The front axle tie rod end clamp bolts may be improperly torqued.
- The 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 increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle tie rod assembly on any vehicle where the factory installed assembly has not been previously replaced, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 11, 2015. The recall began on April 4, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-C.
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Peterbilt 579, 388, 384, 367, 365, 348, and 337 trucks manufactured October 30, 2009, through May 21, 2014. In the affected vehicles, if power is interrupted to the seat electronic control unit (ECU), such as when the fuse for that circuit blows, the side air bag would be disabled but there will not be a warning lamp indicator to notify the operator of the malfunction.
- The 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 air bag not deploying in the event of a rollover.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install a new electrical harness to correct them problem, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. Paccar's number for this recall is 514-F.
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kenworth T660, T680, T700,T800, T880, W900, T440, T470, T370, T270, T170, C500, and C550 chassis manufactured between August 7, 2013, and October 31, 2013, and Peterbilt 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, and 587 chassis manufactured between August 7, 2013, and November 3, 2013, and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
- The 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 the event of an emergency.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2014. Owners may contact PACCAR at 1-425-468-7400. Kenworth's number for this campaign is 14KWC. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 114-B.
- The problem
- PACCAR is recalling certain model year 2014 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T470, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks manufactured May 6, 2013, through May 17, 2013; and model year 2014 Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, 389K, 567, 579 and 587 trucks manufactured May 1, 2013 through May 17, 2013. An internal defect in the ignition switch causes the starter to engage when a key is partially inserted, before the key is turned.
- The risk
- Unintended engine startup could cause injury to a person working in the engine compartment. Vehicles with standard transmissions may experience unexpected movement, which may result in personal injury or a crash.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace affected ignition switches, free of charge. The recall began on June 14, 2013. Owners may contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000. Kenworth's recall campaign number is 13KWF. Peterbilt's recall campaign number is 0513-E.
What owners say
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17 complaints about the 2014 Peterbilt 388
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Problems with (after treatment)codes flashing, check engine, immediately went to stop engine immediately and truck shut off at 70mph. Fortunately not on incline or decline and was able to pull to safety. This happened on two separate occasions. Peterbilt nor cummins has not been able to diagnose the problem until the fuel pump completely failed and took out the engine. Manufacturer knows this is a design and engineering flaw and refuses to take responsibility for these older trucks that still have low miles but...
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are out of warranty. We are personally aware of 5 engine failures in the same time frame of ours..All cummins isx15 motors. These engines are lemons. The after treatment engineering is a sham and the motors are not equipped to handle the strain. These are putting owner operators out of business and are an enormous safety hazard. What is the nhtsa prepared to do about this as the recall due to these fuel pumps should have spanned many more years and thousands more vehicles. Our issue started in 2016 not long after purchase through peterbilt and culminated with fuel pump failure/carbon packing this past week. We were told it was wiring harness and cummins was to cover the cost as no one seemed to be able to diagnose the issue. We have gone from being told it would be a 3800.00 Harness to being told that the truck needs a new motor and fuel/oil pump using the same flawed after treatment (this were the codes that had been appearing that could not be diagnosed, never warning for fuel pump, pressure issues, etc.) For an adtl cost of $39,000 in addition to the service work already performed to no avail. Owner operators cannot stay in business as manufacturers bask in the glory of sales and maintenance profits. Something has to be done. We have been in business for 12 years and now will go out of business and just hope we can sell this lemon. Act now.
6 Peterbilt my company operates are 2014 and 2015 car haulers. All are consistently destroying rear axel tires both sides driver and passenger (thread is coming out). Damaged seems to happen due to overheat of tires. We tried using different brand of tires, but blow out did not stop. We took trucks to [[redacted]] and they are unable to find any issues. With each occurrence thread from drive tire is coming off and tire still holds air. It damages all lights on truck then it damages mud guards and breaks safety...
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wings on the trailer. Each time costs about 2000$ plus road service. Only solution we found at this time to run all position tires on drive tires. So far we did not have any issues for past 30 days. Last truck we purchased from [[redacted]] , they agreed to swap tires at their own expense to all position... No solution is offered to us. We have lost over $40,000 so far on brand new trucks... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
6 Peterbilt my company operates are 2014 and 2015 car haulers. All are consistently destroying rear axel tires both sides driver and passenger (thread is coming out). Damaged seems to happen due to overheat of tires. We tried using different brand of tires, but blow out did not stop. We took trucks to [[redacted]] and they are unable to find any issues. With each occurrence thread from drive tire is coming off and tire still holds air. It damages all lights on truck then it damages mud guards and breaks safety...
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wings on the trailer. Each time costs about 2000$ plus road service. Only solution we found at this time to run all position tires on drive tires. So far we did not have any issues for past 30 days. Last truck we purchased from [[redacted]], they agreed to swap tires at their own expense to all position... No solution is offered to us. We have lost over $40,000 so far on brand new trucks... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
We operate 6 brand new peterbilt 388 car haulers. Every truck randomly blows drive inside tire. Once tire blows it can blow adjacent tire. So far we had about 20 blow out in 2 month time. Only solution so far we found was to reroute exhaust pipe to the side and replace tires to all position tires. No reimbursement from peterbilt. Called every possible number, but no response. This is a factory defect and exhaust causes inside tire to overheat and cause blow out. Tires blow every 1000-3000 miles. We have spend over 30,000$ on road calls and tire replacement so far. *Tr
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. No reimbursement from peterbilt. Called every possible number, but no response. This is a factory defect and exhaust causes inside tire to overheat and cause blow out. Tires blow every 1000-3000 miles. We have spend over 30,000$ on road calls and tire replacement so far. *Tr
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. No reimbursement from peterbilt. Called every possible number, but no response. This is a factory defect and exhaust causes inside tire to overheat and cause blow out. Tires blow every 1000-3000 miles. We have spend over 30,000$ on road calls and tire replacement so far. *Tr
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 $800... And couple thousand more on other items. Truck was about 76000 pounds. Front axel was 11800. *Tr
2014 Peterbilt 388 car hauler. Passenger side 2014 michelin xza 275/70/r22.5 Blew up. Truck lost power hood was ripped apart. Wheel, door, hood, electrical, air intake destroyed. Waiting for insurance to cover any damage. So far have spend over 20,000$ plus road service. Truck was traveling 73 mph front weight 11200. Tire had around 18000 miles. *Tr
Front michelin xza 2 tire blew. It was replaced 7/15/2014 at 130,673. Tire had less then 35,000 on it. Truck was damaged wheel destroyed. Hood damaged, bumper damaged. Road service replaced 1 tire and wheel paid $1500 tire size 275/70/22.5 *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 peterbilt 388 tractor, equipped with michelin xz4 tires, size 275/70/22 1/2 (na). While driving approximately 67 mph, the front passenger side tire exploded and damaged the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the lot. The tire failure was not diagnosed, but the tires were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The dot number was unknown. The approximate tractor failure mileage was 122,000 and the tire failure mileage was 45,000.
Driver was traveling down rt 95 south in north calolina around mile marker 45 when the tire just blow out. When they blow out it causes a lot of damage to the trucks hood and finder. Please keep in mind that this a new truck that came with these tires on it. Michelin xza2 295/60/22.5. *Tr
Multiple tire failures on 2014 peterbilt trucks with michelin tires. *Tr
Steer tire failures on multiple 2014 peterbilt trucks with michelin tires. *Tr
Steer tire failures on multiple 2013 and 2014 peterbilt 388 trucks with michelin tires. *Tr
Steer tire failures on multiple 2013 and 2014 peterbilt 388 trucks with michelin tires. *Tr
We have had several steer tire failures on 2013 and 2014 peterbilt trucks. We run either a 295 70 22.5 Michelin or a 275 70 22.5 Michelin. The trucks are usually at close to 80,000 lbs when these failures occur. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 peterbilt 388 truck equipped with michelin xza 2 energy tires, size 295-60-22.5. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 66 mph, the front passenger's side tire blew and the contact crashed into the median. There were no injuries. The contact also stated that the front driver's side tire blew the following day. The tires were replaced. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileages were 33,200. The dot number was not available. Updated 8/26/13 *cn ...
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the consumer stated this incident has occurred four times in 1 year, on both the passenger's and driver's side. The consumer stated the tires are not lasting due to the heat. The front bumper and left headlight of the volvo was found damaged as well as the left fender. There was no physical evidence that the tire failed due to impact or road hazard. There were no indications that the tire was improperly inflated. There were no failures found with the valve stem. Updated 09/4/2013*js
Peterbilt 388: every year compared
All 388 years2014 Peterbilt 388 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Peterbilt 388 | 17 | 8 | F | |
| 2014 Peterbilt 337 | 1 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2014 Peterbilt 389 | 1 | 7 | C | Compare |
| 2014 Peterbilt 320 | 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 2014 Peterbilt 388
Does the 2014 Peterbilt 388 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2014 Peterbilt 388: electronic stability control (ESC) (April 2020); tires (November 2015); alternator / generator / regulator (July 2015); labels (March 2015) 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 2014 Peterbilt 388?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (16), body, doors & structure (2), engine & cooling (2).
How many complaints has the 2014 Peterbilt 388 had?
17 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 17, 2013 and the latest on October 2, 2019. Of these, 7 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2014 Peterbilt 388 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 21 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Peterbilt 388 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 388 years have the most complaints?
2014 (17), 2015 (3). See every Peterbilt 388 year compared.
What should I do if my 2014 Peterbilt 388 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