- 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
2015 Peterbilt 389 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2015 Peterbilt 389 with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (5) and the body, doors & structure (2). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 death. It is covered by 10 recalls, the latest in April 2020 for the electronic stability control (ESC). For comparison, the 2014 has 1 and the 2016 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical 389 year, for its age
#269 most complained-about 2015 vehicle
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 2015 Peterbilt 389 problems
Share of all 7 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2015 Peterbilt 389 recalls 10
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 2015-2020 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles equipped with a left-hand under hood jumper terminal (option code 2539410). The positive battery jumper terminal cable may be too long, allowing it to chafe against the left front suspension spring and result in an electrical short circuit.
- The risk
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20PBA.
- 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 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI 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
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 15KWE and 515-F.
- 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 2015 Peterbilt 389 Pride and Class edition vehicles manufactured October 1, 2014, to December 4, 2014, and equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). The affected vehicles were manufactured with an incorrect horn contact plate that may damage the ESC steering angle sensor.
- The risk
- If the steering angle sensor is damaged, the ESC sensor may malfunction, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will replace the horn contact plate and the ESC steering angle sensor, free of charge. The recall began on March 6, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 115A.
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2015 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured from May 23, 2014, to February 13, 2015, and 2015 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks manufactured from May 23, 2014, to February 13, 2015, equipped with certain air brake actuators. The affected vehicles may experience brake drag due to an improperly seated diaphragm in the brake chamber.
- The risk
- Brake drag may result in a wheel end fire.
- The fix
- Kenworth and Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the brake chamber, as necessary, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners March 3, 2015. The recall began on May 14, 2015. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5000 (Kenworth), or 1-940-591-4000 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 14KWP (Kenworth), and 1214L (Peterbilt).
- The problem
- PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2015 Peterbilt 389 "Pride and Class" edition trucks manufactured September 30, 2014, to November 3, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the steering wheel may have been installed with an incorrect attachment nut, or the nut may not be have been properly torqued.
- The risk
- An incorrect or improperly torqued steering wheel attachment nut could allow the steering wheel to come loose, resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering wheel attachment nut, and replace it and/or tighten it, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 1114K.
What owners say
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7 complaints about the 2015 Peterbilt 389
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Peterbilt 389 sleeper cab has no rear window, backup alarm or backup camera. Led to fatality in march 2016.
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...
Read the full complaint
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 $40,000 so far on brand new trucks... Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
6 Peterbilt my company operates are 2014 and 2015 car haulers. All are consistently destroying rear axel tires both sides driver and passenger (thread is coming out). Damaged seems to happen due to overheat of tires. We tried using different brand of tires, but blow out did not stop. We took trucks to [[redacted]] and they are unable to find any issues. With each occurrence thread from drive tire is coming off and tire still holds air. It damages all lights on truck then it damages mud guards and breaks safety...
Read the full complaint
wings on the trailer. Each time costs about 2000$ 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
4 Brand new trucks peterbilt and western star with michelin tires 295/60/r22.5 And 275/70/22.5. Front tires blew up with severe damage to front end. *Tr
Purchased new 2015 pete on 7/29/2014 from rush peterbilt sealy texas with @ 3 miles showing on odometer. On @ 7/31/2014 stopped in waco texas with vehicle to check securement of load and when released parking brake the parking brake indicator remained on, engine derated, speedo failed to work and vehicle unsafe to drive in current condition. I drove @ 2 miles to rush peterbilt waco and waited for service to open. Restarted vehicle after @ 1 hour and issue wasn't occurring. Dealer said nothing they could do....
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Delivered in irving tx and went to rush irving and advised they were to busy to look at it for at least 4-5 days. Returned to bertram tx. Vehicle was sent to rush peterbilt sealy until 8/7/2014 and failed to repair issue. Vehicle ans since been in peterbilt sealy and peterbilt buda texas for 26 days without being repaired. *Tr
Peterbilt 389: every year compared
All 389 years2015 Peterbilt 389 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Peterbilt 389 | 7 | 10 | D | |
| 2015 Peterbilt 388 | 3 | 7 | C | 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 2015 Peterbilt 389
Does the 2015 Peterbilt 389 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2015 Peterbilt 389: electronic stability control (ESC) (April 2020); cables (March 2020); tires (November 2015); alternator / generator / regulator (July 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 2015 Peterbilt 389?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (5), body, doors & structure (2), electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 2015 Peterbilt 389 had?
7 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 3, 2014 and the latest on August 10, 2017. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 2015 Peterbilt 389 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 26 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Peterbilt 389 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 389 years have the most complaints?
2015 (7), 2022 (4), 2019 (3). See every Peterbilt 389 year compared.
What should I do if my 2015 Peterbilt 389 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