Peterbilt 385 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 25 safety recalls and 0 owner complaints across 21 model years of the Peterbilt 385 (1996–2016).
Pick your Peterbilt 385 model year
All Peterbilt 385 recalls (25)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Peterbilt 385, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Labels (equipment) and tires
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…
Remedy: 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…
Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
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Labels (equipment)
Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain 2004-2013 Peterbilt 379, 357, 378, 367, 388, 365, 389, 385 and 386 trucks manufactured from April 3, 2003, through October 25, 2013 and equipped with tri-drive rear axles and a tag or pusher axle. The affected vehicles may be missing required information from the certification label,…
Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the certification labels missing the necessary information. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers can contact Peterbilt at…
Model years: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
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Axle assembly (power train)
Paccar is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 kenworth and peterbilt vehicles manufactured from february 2, 2006 through april 30, 2007. The bearing surfaces of the extended lube universal joint that attaches the inter-axle driveline to the drive axle may become prematurely worn due to breakdown of lubrication and/or excessive heat.…
Remedy: Paccar is working with its supplier to remedy the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during february 2011. Owners may contact kenworth at 425-828-5440 and peterbilt at 940-591-4196.
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Disc (service brakes)
Paccar is recalling 86 my 2009 kenworth t660, t800, w900, and peterbilt 386, 365, and 388 trucks equipped with bendix front air disc brakes. The size 14 service chamber of certain front air disc brakes may have been contaminated with grease between the piston head/plate and the diaphragm. When braking pressure is applied, the grease may…
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front air disc brakes size 14 service chambers free of charge. The recall began on august 27, 2008. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 and peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
Model years: 2009
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Trailer hitches
Paccar is recalling 318 my 2007-2009 kenworth t800, w900, and peterbilt 357, 365, 367, 378, 379, 384, 385, 386,388, and 389 trucks equipped with premier trailer hitch assemblies. The pintle hitch assemblies may have been manufactured in a manner resulting in a reduction of fatigue strength of the pivot pins.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the potentially defective pivot pin free of charge. The recall began on april 18, 2008. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
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Trailer hitches
On certain trucks, the removable tow hitch ,when used to tow or lift a vehicle, can fail due to defective material in the tow hitch.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tow pin assembly free of charge. The recall began on september 4, 2007. Owners may contact kenworth at 425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 940-591-4201.
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Axle assembly (power train)
On certain trucks, the axle housings may have been manufactured with steel that was out of specification which could result in a fatigue failure over time.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the axles free of charge. The recall began on may 9, 2007. Owners may contact kenworth at 425-828-5440 and peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
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Suspension
On some peterbilt trucks, certain parts used in the air suspensions have a high copper content causing premature failure.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, when necessary, replace the defective parts. The recall began on january 17, 2007. Owners may contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
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Engine and engine cooling
On certain tractors equipped with caterpillar diesel engines, the variable valve actuation oil line may wear against the sharp edge of the cylinder head if not positioned correctly.
Remedy: Caterpillar, in conjunction with paccar, will be conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign free of charge. Owners may call caterpillar at 309-675-6496, kenworth at 425-828-5440, or peterbilt at…
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Steering
On certain trucks equipped with the bendix electronic stability control (esp) system, the system uses multiple sensors and an electronic control unit (ECU) to control vehicle under steer, over-steer, and rollover situations. The system relies on vehicle sensors to be functioning and aligned properly. The steering angle sensor has the…
Remedy: Because of the immediate and substantial risk, kenworth and peterbilt dealers will first deactivate the yaw control feature of the bendix esp system preventing inadvertent esp activation. When parts are available, the…
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Arm (steering)
On certain trucks equipped with dana spicer integral knuckle and steer arm assemblies, the steer axle assemblies may have a longitudinal crack in the steer arm.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the knuckle and steer arm assemblies. Owner notification began january 5, 2004. Owners should contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201.
Model years: 2003
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Axle hubs (power train)
On certain heavy duty trucks, the locking tab that locks the outer spindle nut onto the spindle was not engaged or properly bent over.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the hubs to determine if the locking tabs are properly bent. If the locking tabs are not bent, then dealers will inspect the appropriate components for premature wear and replace such components as…
Model years: 2003
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Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)
On certain trucks equipped with jost international jsk 37u series fifth wheels, a fatigue crack can develop in the bracket pin weld under certain loading conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bracket pins and repair instructions free of charge. Peterbilt's owner notification began june 20, 2003. Kenworth's owner notification began june 12, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
Model years: 2003
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Hub (suspension)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Hand control/valve (service brakes)
On certain vehicles equipped with bendix tc-7 trailer control hand-operated valve with push-to-connect fittings. The delivery port in the valve body may be partially blocked due to a problem during the molding process.
Remedy: Paccar will notify its customers and inspect and replace, if necessary, the hand valve free of charge. Owner notification began october 18, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
Model years: 2002
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Check valve (service brakes)
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with meritor wabco pneumatic anitlock brake system (ABS) valve packages, the assembly bolts on these valve packages were not tightened correctly.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the fasteners to the proper specification. Owner notification began february 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Model years: 2001
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. A change in the internal linkage of certain cab doors has created a possible binding condition.
Remedy: 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…
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Suspension
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.
Remedy: 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…
Model years: 2000
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Steering
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The bolts used to secure the steering shaft can fail.
Remedy: 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…
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Anchorage (seat belts)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace all affected tie rods and drag links with different designed ends.
Model years: 1999
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Electrical system: module
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with caterpillar engines and eaton autoshift transmissions. The engines can stall because of software problems.
Remedy: Dealers will update these engines with software changes. Caterpillar is conducting the owner notification and remedy of this recall.
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Hub (suspension)
Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with design level 1, rockwell ff980 series front axle. The front axle hub flange can develop cracks due to high stress levels.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the front hubs with an improved design level 2 hub.
Model years: 1996
Other Peterbilt models
- 37960 complaints
- 57942 complaints
- Peterbilt36 complaints
- 38923 complaints
- 38821 complaints
- 35719 complaints
- 38612 complaints
- 38711 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.