Complaints about the 2014 Peterbilt 388 peaked in 2014, with 15 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Heavy truck, diesel, 6x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jul 17, 2013 to Oct 2, 2019.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V-199 | Apr 6, 2020 | 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… | Stability and traction control | 460,515 | Software update |
| 15V-740 | Nov 9, 2015 | 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 | Tires | 1,876 | Software update |
| 15V-456 | Jul 22, 2015 | Affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon… | Electrical system | 288 | Repair or modification |
| 15V-132 | Mar 6, 2015 | Affected vehicles may be equipped with Tire and Rim Certification Labels that list a tire pressure below the actual correct amount | Equipment | 213,230 | Label or owner notice |
| 15V-108 | Feb 24, 2015 | Front axle tie rod end clamp bolts may be improperly torqued | Steering | 5,141 | Part replacement |
| 14V-283 | May 29, 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… | Airbags | 1,705 | Repair or modification |
| 14V-013 | Jan 24, 2014 | 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… | Seat belts | 10,414 | Part replacement |
| 13V-222 | May 28, 2013 | Internal defect in the ignition switch causes the starter to engage when a key is partially inserted, before the key is turned | Electrical system | 1,773 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
17 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
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 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 $39,000 IN ADDITION TO THE SERVICE WORK ALREADY PERFORMED TO NO AVAIL. OWNER OPERATORS CANNOT STAY IN BUSINESS AS MANUFACTURERS BASK IN THE GLORY OF SALES AND MAINTENANCE PROFITS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 12 YEARS AND NOW WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND JUST HOPE WE CAN SELL THIS LEMON. ACT NOW.
NHTSA complaint 112657866 PETERBILT MY COMPANY OPERATES ARE 2014 AND 2015 CAR HAULERS. ALL ARE CONSISTENTLY DESTROYING REAR AXEL TIRES BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER (THREAD IS COMING OUT). DAMAGED SEEMS TO HAPPEN DUE TO OVERHEAT OF TIRES. WE TRIED USING DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES, BUT BLOW OUT DID NOT STOP. WE TOOK TRUCKS TO [XXX] AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THREAD FROM DRIVE TIRE IS COMING OFF AND TIRE STILL HOLDS AIR. IT DAMAGES ALL LIGHTS ON TRUCK THEN IT DAMAGES MUD GUARDS AND BREAKS SAFETY WINGS ON THE TRAILER. EACH TIME COSTS ABOUT 2000$ 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 [XXX] , THEY AGREED TO SWAP TIRES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO ALL POSITION... NO SOLUTION IS OFFERED TO US. WE HAVE LOST OVER $40,000 SO FAR ON BRAND NEW TRUCKS... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA complaint 106587726 PETERBILT MY COMPANY OPERATES ARE 2014 AND 2015 CAR HAULERS. ALL ARE CONSISTENTLY DESTROYING REAR AXEL TIRES BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER (THREAD IS COMING OUT). DAMAGED SEEMS TO HAPPEN DUE TO OVERHEAT OF TIRES. WE TRIED USING DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES, BUT BLOW OUT DID NOT STOP. WE TOOK TRUCKS TO [XXX] AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THREAD FROM DRIVE TIRE IS COMING OFF AND TIRE STILL HOLDS AIR. IT DAMAGES ALL LIGHTS ON TRUCK THEN IT DAMAGES MUD GUARDS AND BREAKS SAFETY WINGS ON THE TRAILER. EACH TIME COSTS ABOUT 2000$ 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 [XXX], THEY AGREED TO SWAP TIRES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO ALL POSITION... NO SOLUTION IS OFFERED TO US. WE HAVE LOST OVER $40,000 SO FAR ON BRAND NEW TRUCKS... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA complaint 10658769WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10658768WE 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
NHTSA complaint 10658767WE 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
NHTSA complaint 106587662014 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 $800... AND COUPLE THOUSAND MORE ON OTHER ITEMS. TRUCK WAS ABOUT 76000 POUNDS. FRONT AXEL WAS 11800. *TR
NHTSA complaint 106587632014 PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULER. PASSENGER SIDE 2014 MICHELIN XZA 275/70/R22.5 BLEW UP. TRUCK LOST POWER HOOD WAS RIPPED APART. WHEEL, DOOR, HOOD, ELECTRICAL, AIR INTAKE DESTROYED. WAITING FOR INSURANCE TO COVER ANY DAMAGE. SO FAR HAVE SPEND OVER 20,000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. TRUCK WAS TRAVELING 73 MPH FRONT WEIGHT 11200. TIRE HAD AROUND 18000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10658761FRONT 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
NHTSA complaint 10652387TL* 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.
NHTSA complaint 10652379DRIVER 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
NHTSA complaint 10648659MULTIPLE TIRE FAILURES ON 2014 PETERBILT TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10626628STEER TIRE FAILURES ON MULTIPLE 2014 PETERBILT TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10626623STEER TIRE FAILURES ON MULTIPLE 2013 AND 2014 PETERBILT 388 TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10626610STEER TIRE FAILURES ON MULTIPLE 2013 AND 2014 PETERBILT 388 TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10626604WE 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
NHTSA complaint 10626593TL* 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 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
NHTSA complaint 10525399Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.