2006 Peterbilt 385 recalls and problems

The 2006 Peterbilt 385 has 5 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2006 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

5recalls
0complaints
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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5 recalls

Equipment

Mar 6, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V132000 · 213,230 vehicles

Problem: 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)."

Risk: 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 & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Equipment

Nov 25, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V593000 · 561 vehicles

Problem: 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, specifically the tag or pusher axle the gross axle weight rating, suitable tire and rim information, and recommended tire pressure information. Without this information, the vehicles do not comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification."

Risk: As a result, the axles may be overloaded or the wrong tires could be installed or the tires could be improperly inflated. All of these issues increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

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 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 1113-F.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Trailer Hitches

Jun 26, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V269000 · 9,571 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If the tow hitch assembly fails while a vehicle is being towed or lifted, it May cause an accident that could result in personal injury or death.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE TOW HITCH ASSEMBLY FAILS WHILE A VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED OR LIFTED, IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy & notes

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.

Peterbilt recall no.507E and Kenworth recall no. 07KWA.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Dec 22, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V570000 · 30,995 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The oil line May be cut on the cylinder head causing an oil leak and a possible fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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 940-591-4201.

Kenworth recall no. 05KW7 and Peterbilt recall no. 1205E.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236(tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Steering

Nov 29, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V543000 · 241 vehicles

Problem: 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 potential to be misaligned with the steering column shaft, thereby providing incorrect information to the bendix ECU.

Original NHTSA wording

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 POTENTIAL TO BE MISALIGNED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT, THEREBY PROVIDING INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE BENDIX ECU.

Risk: This condition could affect vehicle throttle control and braking, thereby leading to loss of vehicle steering control which could cause a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT VEHICLE THROTTLE CONTROL AND BRAKING, THEREBY LEADING TO LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

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 steering column will be replaced to insure proper alignment of the steering shaft sensor and the full esp system will be reactivated. The recall began on December 7, 2005. Parts to complete the remedy are estimated to be available in early 2006. Owners May contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201.

Kenworth recall no. 05KW6 and Peterbilt recall no. 1105D. Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

2006 vs. other Peterbilt 385 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2006. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2006 Peterbilt 385 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2006 Peterbilt 385, the latest from Mar 6, 2015 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Peterbilt 385?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Peterbilt 385.