2020 Peterbilt 389

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 5 times.

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Steering › Critical Fasteners22V277000
Filed Apr 25, 202217,641 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T880, T800, W900, W990; and 2018-2020 Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567, and 579 vehicles. The Dana D-Series axle steer arm fasteners that attach the steering arm to the steering knuckle may fail.

Risk. Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy. Dealers will replace and torque the steer arm fasteners, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22 PBB and 22 KWB.

Electrical System › Software21V906000
Filed Nov 19, 2021908 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Kenworth T880, W990, Peterbilt 567, 579, 389, and 2022 Peterbilt 536, 537 wrecker and auto hauler vehicles. The work brake (winch brake) may unintentionally disengage the service brakes during winching operations, causing the vehicle to roll.

Risk. Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy. Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWG and 21PBM.

Power Train › Axle Assembly20V506000
Filed Aug 26, 20201,097 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Peterbilt 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567 and Kenworth T800, T880, W900, W990 vehicles equipped with Watson and Chalin steerable lift axle suspension systems (model SL2065). The axles may have lower rear pivot bolts that are not long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts.

Risk. The short screws can cause the hardware to separate from the suspension system and become road hazards, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect suspect chassis and replace the pivot bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 20PBE and 20KWC.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables20V130000
Filed Mar 4, 202035,671 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles equipped with a left-hand under hood jumper terminal (option code 2539410). The positive battery jumper terminal cable may be too long, allowing it to chafe against the left front suspension spring and result in an electrical short circuit.

Risk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20PBA.

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft19V911000
Filed Dec 19, 2019148 vehiclesPaccar Incorporated

Defect. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Kenworth T800, T880 and W990 and Peterbilt 348, 367, 389, 520, and 567 vehicles. The forward rear axle output shafts may have been improperly heat treated during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the shafts fracturing.

Risk. If the rear axle output shaft fractures, the shaft or interaxle driveline could detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the output shafts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 19KWE and 19PBG.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2015
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20250200Routine
20241500Routine
20230600Routine
20224700Routine
20211600Routine
2020 — this page0500Routine
20193600Routine
20180600Routine
20171700Routine
20160800Routine
201571001Fatalities reported
20141700Routine
20130800Routine
20121900Routine
20110700Routine
20100700Routine
200901200Routine
200831200Routine
20070500Routine
20060200Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine

Compare every 389 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 25, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.