2009 Peterbilt 387: complaints, problems and recalls

STEERING LINKAGE IS A CRITICAL FAILURE IN THE PETERBILT 387. I HAVE A 2009 MODEL, AND ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD, IT NOW MAKES SCARY POPPING AND CREAKING NOISE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING FROM OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE, STEERING SEIZES TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT MAKING IT HARD TO BREAK IT LOOSE. MY OPINION IS THAT PACCAR NEEDS TO MODIFY AND IMPROVE THE STEERING COMPONENTS. FOR ME, THE POPPING AND CREAKING NOISE GETS LOUDER AND LOUDER EVERY DAY. I'M THINKING ITS THE MATERIAL USED THAT'S A COMPLETE FAIL. PETERBILT ISN'T WILLING TO HONOR THEIR MISTAKE O…

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242045 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PETERBILT CONVENTIONAL 387. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DPS FILTER FAILED TO WORK AND THAT THE SYSTEM WAS RUNNING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO CLEANED THE FILTER, UPDATED THE SOFTWARE TO THE DPF, AND REPROGRAMMED THE DPS SOFTWARE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE SYSTEM INDICATING THAT IT WAS RUNNING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V203000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 400,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724813 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-02-07 (February 7, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 6,169 MY 2008 KENWORTH T300, T660, T800, T2000, W900 AND C500 VEHICLES AND MY 2008-2009 PETERBILT MODELS 365, 367, 384, 387, 388, 389 AND 389 KITS. CERTAIN DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, 'DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS." THE ROTOR IN SOME OF THESE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLIES DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER HEAT TREATMENT AND MAY BE SOFT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, FORCE COULD CAUSE THE ROTOR TO CRACK AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT HAVE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY CLOSING SECURITY WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO INJURY OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH TRIMARK AND WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH IF IT IS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 4,883 MY 2006-2009 KENWORTH T600, T660, T800, W900, T2000 AND MY 2008-2009 PETERBILT 365, 367, 379, 384, 386, 387, 388 AND 389 TRUCKS. INADEQUATE STIFFNESS OF THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) BRACKET COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE DPF FROM THE CHASSIS.

Consequence: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR IF ANOTHER VEHICLE STRIKES THE DPF ON THE ROADWAY.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES (PLEASE SEE 08E041). OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-800-447-4986 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2009-01-16 (January 16, 2009)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 1098 KENWORTH MY 2008 T800, W900, MY 2008-2009 T2000 AND PETERBILT MY 2007-2009 379 AND 387 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH C15 CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES. THE AFTERTREATMENT REGENERATION DEVICE (ARD) MAY DEVELOP A HOLE AND HEAT AND FLAME MAY ESCAPE DURING A REGENERATION OF THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR AND WILL INSPECT AND REMEDY THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-800-447-4986, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4196.

Reported: 2009-07-08 (July 8, 2009)

PACCAR IS RECALLING 2,096 MY 2009 KENWORTH AND PETERBILT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING SHAFTS. MISLOCATION OF A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD MAY ALLOW THE SPLINED TUBE AND NON-SPLINED TUBE TO ROTATE RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER DURING A LOW SPEED, HIGH TORQUE TURN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE TWO TUBES.

Consequence: A SEPARATION OF THE SPLINED AND NON-SPLINED TUBES COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING SHAFT USING A WELD PLACEMENT GAUGE AND MISWELDED STEERING SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JULY 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2010-07-02 (July 2, 2010)

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING SHAFTS. THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD AROUND THE STEERING SHAFT TUBE THAT WELDS THE SPLINED TUBE TO THE NON-SPLINED TUBE MAY BE MISLOCATED. MISLOCATION OF THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD MAY ALLOW THE SPLINED TUBE AND NON-SPLINED TUBE TO ROTATE RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER DURING A LOW SPEED, HIGH TORQUE TURN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE TWO TUBES.

Consequence: A SEPARATION OF THE SPLINED AND NON-SPLINED TUBES WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING SHAFT USING A WELD PLACEMENT GAUGE PROVIDED BY TRW. ANY STEERING SHAFT FOUND TO HAVE BEEN WELDED IMPROPERLY WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 940-591-4196.

Reported: 2011-02-23 (February 23, 2011)

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 KENWORTH T2000, T660, T700, T800, AND W900, AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 PETERBILT 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, AND 587 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH PACCAR MX ENGINES. THE OIL MODULE CENTRIFUGAL SPINNER FILTER CAP IN THE PACCAR MX ENGINE MAY BECOME LOOSE, POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE CAP TO COME OFF AND ENGINE OIL TO PARTIALLY DISCHARGE FROM THE OIL MODULE ONTO EXHAUST COMPONENTS.

Consequence: THE DISCHARGE OF ENGINE OIL ONTO EXHAUST COMPONENTS WHICH ARE HOT, SUCH AS WHEN THE ENGINE IS UNDER SIGNIFICANT LOAD, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-TORQUE THE OIL MODULE FILTER CAP AND INSTALL A SECONDARY RETENTION DEVICE ON THE SECONDARY CENTRIFUGAL SPINNER FILTER CAP. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2011-03-24 (March 24, 2011)

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 KENWORTH C500, T2000, T600, AND T660, AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 PETERBILT 387 AND 388 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C15 ENGINE AND MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 17, 2010. DEGRADATION OF A COMBUSTION TUBE WELD CAN CAUSE RADIAL HEAT IMPINGEMENT ON THE BODY WHICH MAY BURN THROUGH CERTAIN BODIES USED ON C15 ENGINES.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: CATERPILLAR IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE CATERPILLAR'S DEFECT REPORT 11E-006. CATERPILLAR WILL REPLACE THE SINGLE PIECE COMBUSTION TUBE WITH A THICK WALL COMBUSTION TUBE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE HEAT TO BREAK THROUGH. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. DUE TO A PARTS SUPPLY ISSUE, OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THE END OF APRIL 2011 ABOUT THE SAFETY DEFECT, AND WILL THEN BE NOTIFIED AGAIN ONCE THE FREE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE, CURRENTLY ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND LATE JULY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-447-4986.

Reported: 2015-03-06 (March 6, 2015)

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)."

Consequence: 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.

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 number for this recall is 215-D.

Reported: 2020-04-06 (April 6, 2020)

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."

Consequence: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

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 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.