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2014 Peterbilt 388 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 2014 Peterbilt 388, and owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

8
safety recalls
17
owner complaints to NHTSA
7 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

8 safety recalls for the 2014 Peterbilt 388

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Electronic stability control (esc) and abs warning light (service brakes)

    NHTSA 20V199000 Reported 460,515 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

  2. Tires

    NHTSA 15V740000 Reported 1,876 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

  3. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

    NHTSA 15V456000 Reported 288 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

    Remedy: 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,…

  4. Labels (equipment) and tires

    NHTSA 15V132000 Reported 213,230 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

  5. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 15V108000 Reported 5,141 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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.

    Remedy: 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…

  6. Electrical system and air bags

    NHTSA 14V283000 Reported 1,705 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

    Remedy: 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.…

  7. Seat belts

    NHTSA 14V013000 Reported 10,414 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

  8. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 13V222000 Reported 1,773 vehicles potentially affected PACCAR Incorporated

    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…

    Remedy: 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.…

17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2014 Peterbilt 388 have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 148,727 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 15 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 safe”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2019 · Engine

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 18, 2014 · Tires

Compare Peterbilt 388 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Peterbilt 388 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2004 Peterbilt 38810
2005 Peterbilt 38810
2006 Peterbilt 38820
2007 Peterbilt 38870
2008 Peterbilt 388170
2009 Peterbilt 388150
2010 Peterbilt 388110
2011 Peterbilt 388110
2012 Peterbilt 388101
2013 Peterbilt 38890
2014 Peterbilt 388817
2015 Peterbilt 38873
2016 Peterbilt 38830
2017 Peterbilt 38810
2018 Peterbilt 38810
2019 Peterbilt 38810

Checking a specific 2014 Peterbilt 388

How do I know if my 2014 Peterbilt 388 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2014 Peterbilt 388; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Peterbilt dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V222000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Peterbilt models

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.