Model line

Peterbilt 389

Every Peterbilt 389 model year on file, 2004 to 2025. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years232 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years222004 to 2025
Recall campaigns48Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins781Summed across model years
By model year

The 2015 model year drew the most complaints, 7, 30% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

02468200420062008201020122014720162018202020222025
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Electrical system leads the Peterbilt 389 complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Electrical system
5
Tires
4
Wheels
4
Brakes
4
Structure
3
Engine and cooling
2
Stability and traction control
2
Steering
2
Lighting
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each Peterbilt 389 model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Peterbilt 389 by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2025Not decoded0NoneNone2024
2024Heavy truck20.0675040
2023Not decoded0NoneNone6052
2022Heavy truck40.02007066
2021Heavy truck10.01006073
2020Not decoded0NoneNone5056
2019Heavy truck30.01006254
2018Not decoded0NoneNone6252
2017Heavy truck10.01007256
2016Not decoded0NoneNone8145
2015Heavy truck728.617510137
2014Heavy truck10.0507031
2013Not decoded0NoneNone8024
2012Not decoded10.01009022
2011Not decoded0NoneNone7027
2010Not decoded0NoneNone7023
2009Not decoded0NoneNone12118
2008Heavy truck30.015012221
2007Not decoded0NoneNone5118
2006Not decoded0NoneNone2014
2005Not decoded0NoneNone1014
2004Not decoded0NoneNone1014
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Peterbilt 389

  • 24V-915 Dec 9, 2024
    Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning
    Electrical system · 221k vehicles
  • 24V-908 Dec 3, 2024
    Steering arm and/or tie rod bracket fasteners may fail, resulting in a loss of steering control
    Steering · 68 vehicles
  • 24V-190 Mar 20, 2024
    Right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication
    Powertrain · 71k vehicles
  • 24V-044 Jan 25, 2024
    Steering gear assemblies may have been assembled incorrectly with fewer recirculating balls than are required, which may result in a loss of…
    Steering · 46k vehicles
  • 24V-043 Jan 25, 2024
    Bearing journals may not be fully seated in the steering knuckle assemblies, preventing the proper installation of the wheel end hub assemblies
    Steering · 68 vehicles
  • 22V-782 Oct 18, 2022
    Tie rod clamps may have been improperly heat-treated, causing them to fail and allowing the tie rods to separate
    Steering · 79 vehicles
  • 22V-779 Oct 17, 2022
    Digital display may freeze and not display critical safety information
    Electrical system · 75k vehicles
  • 22V-631 Aug 17, 2022
    Engine control module (ECM) may experience an internal electrical short-circuit, causing the engine to stall
    Engine and cooling · 1,601 vehicles
  • 22V-547 Jul 28, 2022
    Steering gears may have been assembled incorrectly, which can cause the gears to fracture
    Steering · 48k vehicles
  • 22V-277 Apr 25, 2022
    Dana D-Series axle steer arm fasteners that attach the steering arm to the steering knuckle may fail
    Steering · 18k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.