Peterbilt 389
Owners filed 22 complaints across 22 model years of the Peterbilt 389. The 2015 drew the most (7); the 2025 the fewest (0).
Model years22
Complaints22
Recalls139
Fires0
Deaths1
Every Peterbilt 389 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2024 | 1 | 5 | — | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Routine | |
| 2023 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2022 | 4 | 7 | — | — | Steering | Routine | |
| 2021 | 1 | 6 | — | — | Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer | Routine | |
| 2020 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2019 | 3 | 6 | — | — | Tires | Routine | |
| 2018 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2017 | 1 | 7 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2016 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2015 | 7 | 10 | — | 1 | Wheels | Fatalities reported | |
| 2014 | 1 | 7 | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2013 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2012 | 1 | 9 | — | — | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2011 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2010 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2009 | 0 | 12 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2008 | 3 | 12 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2007 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2006 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine |
Which Peterbilt 389 years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2015 is the weakest year on record, with 7 complaints concentrated in the wheels. It carries 10 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.