Total Complaints
1 filings
PETERBILT 386 · model year
2005 PETERBILT 386
1 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005PETERBILT386 carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 386 is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2005 386. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
Recalls (4)
07V26900026/06/2007
TRAILER HITCHES
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.
13V59300025/11/2013
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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 inform
07V13200022/03/2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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.
07V15300010/04/2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, IF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED ON PRIOR TO INITIAL START UP IN THE MANUFACTURING PLANT OR DURING THE FILTER REPLACEMENT IN THE FIELD, A SMALL FLAME WILL IGNITE WHEN THE FUEL IS ADDED TO PRIME THE SYSTEM.
Recent Complaints
20081125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PETERBILT 386. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT AS IF HE HAD BEEN DRUGGED WHENEVER HE AWOKE FROM SLEEPING IN THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, HE BECAME SLEEPY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HE PURCHASED A TESTER TO TEST THE VEHICLE FOR NITRIC OXIDE AND THE LEVELS READ OVER 5,000 PPM. THE COMPANY THAT THE CONTACT WORKS FOR STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF A SEMI-TRUCK LEAKING NITRIC OXIDE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 485,037 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 435,000.
Mileage: 435,000
Compare 2005PETERBILT386 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2005 PETERBILT 386 have?▼
The 2005 PETERBILT 386 has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 PETERBILT 386?▼
Yes, the 2005 PETERBILT 386 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is TRAILER HITCHES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 PETERBILT 386?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 PETERBILT 386 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2005 PETERBILT 386 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.