2009 Peterbilt 387 recalls and problems

The 2009 Peterbilt 387 has 9 recalls and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

How the 2009 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 5 387 model years — 4th most.

9recalls

2complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

400,000median 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.

Check your VIN →

9 recalls

Electronic Stability Control

Apr 6, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V199000 · 460,515 vehicles

Problem: 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."

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

Remedy & notes

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.

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

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.

Engine

Mar 24, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V203000 · 5,831 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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.

Kenworth safety recall no. 11KWB & Peterbilt safety recall no. 0311-A.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> .

Fuel System

Feb 23, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V127000 · 4,664 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The discharge of engine oil onto exhaust components which are hot, such as when the engine is under significant load, May cause a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

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> .

Steering

Jul 2, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V308000 · 9,697 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes would cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Kenworth's recall campaign number is 10KW-F & Peterbilt recall no. 0610-D. 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> .

Steering

Jul 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V258000 · 2,096 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes could cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Kenworth recall no. 09KW8 & Peterbilt recall no. 609-C.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> .

Engine

Jan 16, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V019000 · 1,098 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This May result in a fire hazard.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS MAY RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy & notes

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.

Kenworth recall no. 09KW1 & Peterbilt recall no. 108A.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 <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Engine

Sep 23, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V487000 · 4,883 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: A vehicle crash could occur if another vehicle strikes the DPF on the roadway.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Kenworth recall no. 08KWD and Peterbilt recall no. 908G.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.

Latches/locks/linkages

Feb 7, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V065000 · 6,169 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Kenworth recall no. 08KW1 and Peterbilt recall no. 108A.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.

What owners complain about

Engine1

Steering1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

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…

2009 vs. other Peterbilt 387 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2009. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2009 Peterbilt 387 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns covering the 2009 Peterbilt 387, the latest from Apr 6, 2020 (electronic stability control). 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 2009 Peterbilt 387?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (1), steering (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.