2007 Peterbilt 385 recalls and problems

The 2007 Peterbilt 385 has 7 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2007 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

7recalls
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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7 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.

Power Train

Dec 13, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V634000 · 12,873 vehicles

Problem: Paccar is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Kenworth and Peterbilt vehicles manufactured from February 2, 2006 through April 30, 2007. The bearing surfaces of the extended lube universal joint that attaches the inter-axle driveline to the drive axle May become prematurely worn due to breakdown of lubrication and/or excessive heat. Prematurely worn bearing surfaces May result in the u-joint becoming loose and/or binding. This condition May result in universal joint failure, allowing the inter-axle driveline to detach from the axle.

Original NHTSA wording

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 KENWORTH AND PETERBILT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 2, 2006 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2007. THE BEARING SURFACES OF THE EXTENDED LUBE UNIVERSAL JOINT THAT ATTACHES THE INTER-AXLE DRIVELINE TO THE DRIVE AXLE MAY BECOME PREMATURELY WORN DUE TO BREAKDOWN OF LUBRICATION AND/OR EXCESSIVE HEAT. PREMATURELY WORN BEARING SURFACES MAY RESULT IN THE U-JOINT BECOMING LOOSE AND/OR BINDING. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILURE, ALLOWING THE INTER-AXLE DRIVELINE TO DETACH FROM THE AXLE.

Risk: Detachment of the driveline from the axle May cause the vehicle to lose power and become disabled in the roadway. Also, the driveline could drop from the vehicle into the roadway increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

DETACHMENT OF THE DRIVELINE FROM THE AXLE MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND BECOME DISABLED IN THE ROADWAY. ALSO, THE DRIVELINE COULD DROP FROM THE VEHICLE INTO THE ROADWAY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Paccar is working with its supplier to remedy the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during February 2011. Owners May contact Kenworth at 425-828-5440 and Peterbilt at 940-591-4196.

Kenworth recall no. 10KWL & Peterbilt recall no. 1201F.owners 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 <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Trailer Hitches

Mar 10, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V104000 · 318 vehicles

Problem: Paccar is recalling 318 my 2007-2009 Kenworth T800, W900, and Peterbilt 357, 365, 367, 378, 379, 384, 385, 386,388, and 389 trucks equipped with premier trailer hitch assemblies. The pintle hitch assemblies May have been manufactured in a manner resulting in a reduction of fatigue strength of the pivot pins.

Original NHTSA wording

PACCAR IS RECALLING 318 MY 2007-2009 KENWORTH T800, W900, AND PETERBILT 357, 365, 367, 378, 379, 384, 385, 386,388, AND 389 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH PREMIER TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLIES. THE PINTLE HITCH ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IN A MANNER RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF FATIGUE STRENGTH OF THE PIVOT PINS.

Risk: This reduction of fatigue strength could cause the pivot pin to crack and eventually break, causing the trailer to detach from the truck while in motion, which could cause a crash that could result in personal injury or death.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS REDUCTION OF FATIGUE STRENGTH COULD CAUSE THE PIVOT PIN TO CRACK AND EVENTUALLY BREAK, CAUSING THE TRAILER TO DETACH FROM THE TRUCK WHILE IN MOTION, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH THAT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the potentially defective pivot pin free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2008. Owners May contact Kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.

Kenworth recall no. 08KW4 and Peterbilt recall no.208D.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.

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.

Power Train

Mar 22, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V132000 · 245 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks, the axle housings May have been manufactured with steel that was out of specification which could result in a fatigue failure over time.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE AXLE HOUSINGS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH STEEL THAT WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FATIGUE FAILURE OVER TIME.

Risk: If a fatigue failure occurs and is left unattended, the axle May lock up or the end of the axle could come off, which May result in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF A FATIGUE FAILURE OCCURS AND IS LEFT UNATTENDED, THE AXLE MAY LOCK UP OR THE END OF THE AXLE COULD COME OFF, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and replace the axles free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2007. Owners May contact Kenworth at 425-828-5440 and Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.

Kenworth recall no. 07KW4 & Peterbilt recall no. 107C.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.

Suspension

Dec 21, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V490000 · 3,246 vehicles

Problem: On some Peterbilt trucks, certain parts used in the air suspensions have a high copper content causing premature failure.

Original NHTSA wording

ON SOME PETERBILT TRUCKS, CERTAIN PARTS USED IN THE AIR SUSPENSIONS HAVE A HIGH COPPER CONTENT CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.

Risk: Failure could cause erratic vehicle handling which can cause a vehicle crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

FAILURE COULD CAUSE ERRATIC VEHICLE HANDLING WHICH CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and, when necessary, replace the defective parts. The recall began on January 17, 2007. Owners May contact Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.

Paccar/Peterbilt recall no. 1206D.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.

NHTSA investigations

Driveshaft separates from tractor

PE10029 · opened Aug 2, 2010 · closed Dec 23, 2010 · led to recall 10V634000
Summary

SummaryOn July 13, 2010, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened an investigation on model year (MY) 2007-2009 Peterbilt tractors equipped with the (SPL170XL extended lube inter-axle driveline).ODI opened this investigation based on one Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ) and certain Peterbilt field reports.During the course of the investigation, ODI reviewed PACCAR's IR (October 22, 2010) response with associated data related to Warranty and complaint information, mined field data, interviewed customers and visited local dealers within the Washington Metropolitan area.PACCARconducted testing regarding torsional loading and identified various causative factors contributed to this safety defect finding.The Defect is a consequence of the bearing surfaces of the SPL170XL extended lube universal joint that attaches the inter-axle driveline to the drive axle becoming prematurely worn due to a breakdown of lubrication and/or excessive heat.Prematurely worn bearing surfaces may result in the u-joint becoming loose and/or binding.This condition may result in universal joint failure, allowing the inter-axle driveline to detach from the axle, which may cause the drive shaft to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage hazard.ODI learned that the affected population of the alleged defect extended to peer models within PACCAR.In summary, the following vehicles are being recalled: MY 2007 and 2008 Kenworth trucks, models T600, T660, T200…

Horton Fan Hub Failures

EA09008 · opened May 29, 2009 · closed Aug 27, 2010
Summary

PACCAR is conducting an Owner Notification Program (ONP) for select vehicles within the subject and peer populations.The ONP are attached to the closing report and can be found in the NHTSA Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) database. (TSB: 10033585, 10033584)See Closing report for investigation details.

2007 vs. other Peterbilt 385 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2007. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2007 Peterbilt 385 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the 2007 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 2007 Peterbilt 385?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2007 Peterbilt 385.