PETERBILT 386 · model year

2008 PETERBILT 386

5 NHTSA complaints, and 14 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008PETERBILT386 carries 5 consumer safety complaints 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 2008 386 is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and engine and engine cooling (1). 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 14 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 2008 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.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

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

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1

Recalls (14)

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

08V48700023/09/2008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

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.

11V12700023/02/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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

11V38000021/07/2011

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 KENWORTH T660, T700, AND T800 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 19, 2010, THROUGH MAY 13, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2008, 2010, AND 2011 PETERBILT 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388 AND 587 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 20, 2010, THROUGH JUNE 11, 2011, AND EQU

07V59100020/12/2007

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

ON CERTAIN KENWORTH AND PETERBILT HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TAS-85 TRW STEERING GEARS, THE INNER SURFACE OF THE OUTER SECTOR SHAFT TEETH OF THE STEERING GEARS MAY HAVE AN INCORRECT INVOLUTE PROFILE, WHICH MAY LEAD TO CHIPPING AND DAMAGE OF THE GEARING SYSTEM.

10V63400013/12/2010

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

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

07V40900010/09/2007

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

ON CERTAIN PETERBILT TRUCKS, THE LONGITUDINAL SEAMS ON THE FUEL TANKS WERE FABRICATED USING AN INCORRECT WELD SPEED FOR THE GIVEN MATERIAL THICKNESS. THIS ERROR RESULTED IN A WELD WHICH DID NOT COMPLETELY PENETRATE THE ENTIRE MATERIAL THICKNESS.

08V10400010/03/2008

TRAILER HITCHES

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 PI

08V00200008/01/2008

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON SYNFLEX ECLIPSE BRAND EXTRUDED NYLON AIR BRAKE HOSE TUBING FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THE TUBING WAS MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY FOUR LAYERS OF NYLON MATERIAL, INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED FIVE LAY

08V06500007/02/2008

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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. 20

20V19900006/04/2020

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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-lo

07V28700005/07/2007

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS BUILT WITH CUMMINS ISM C876 ENGINES, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILS TO RECOGNIZE INPUTS OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OR FROM A DRIVER ACTUATED DASH SWITCH THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF UNINTENDED (OR UNEXPECTED) ELEVATED EXHAUST TEMPERATURES.

10V30800002/07/2010

STEERING:COLUMN

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-SPLIN

Recent Complaints

20090618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PETERBILT 386 TRACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGENERATION CYCLE RELATED TO THE DIESEL ENGINE (USED TO BURN SOOT FROM THE EXHAUST) WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT NONE OF THE REMEDIES WERE SUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V487000; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,680 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000

20080523ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2008 PETERBILT 386 ROAD TRACTOR WITH A CUMMINS ISX 550 HP ENGINE. PURCHASED 9-10-07. ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE BLOWING FUSES, THE GPS AND RADIO WOULD GO OFF AND ON, THE POWER WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE DASH LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WOULD FLASH AND ALARM WHEN ON ROUGH ROADS, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT STAYING ON. SOME SENSORS;FUSES REPLACED. IN JANUARY HAVING OIL PRESSURE ISSUES. PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO 0 AND TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF. TOLD THIS A CLOGGED OIL FILTER. CHANGED THE FILTER. CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM. IN FEBRUARY WE TOOK THE IT IN FOR THIS, AND THE ELECTRICAL; THEY COULD FOUND NOTHING. WE PICKED IT UP, DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES AND THE OIL PRESSURE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. TOOK IT BACK, IT WAS KEPT SEVERAL DAYS AND THEY STILL FOUND NOTHING. THEN THE FUEL WAS NOT EQUALIZING BETWEEN TANKS AND THE TRUCK WOULD RUN OUT OF FUEL. WE BROUGHT IT IN ON 4-23-08. WE NOTED THE OIL PRESSURE, THE ELECTRICAL AND THE FUEL NOT EQUALIZING. AFTER 2 DAYS, AGAIN NOTHING WAS FOUND.

Mileage: 80,000

20080523ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2008 PETERBILT 386 ROAD TRACTOR WITH A CUMMINS ISX 550 HP ENGINE. PURCHASED 9-10-07. ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE DOOR LOCKS WERE BLOWING FUSES, THE GPS AND RADIO WOULD GO OFF AND ON, THE POWER WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE DASH LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WOULD FLASH AND ALARM WHEN ON ROUGH ROADS, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT STAYING ON. SOME SENSORS;FUSES REPLACED. IN JANUARY HAVING OIL PRESSURE ISSUES. PRESSURE WOULD DROP TO 0 AND TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF. TOLD THIS A CLOGGED OIL FILTER. CHANGED THE FILTER. CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM. IN FEBRUARY WE TOOK THE IT IN FOR THIS, AND THE ELECTRICAL; THEY COULD FOUND NOTHING. WE PICKED IT UP, DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES AND THE OIL PRESSURE BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. TOOK IT BACK, IT WAS KEPT SEVERAL DAYS AND THEY STILL FOUND NOTHING. THEN THE FUEL WAS NOT EQUALIZING BETWEEN TANKS AND THE TRUCK WOULD RUN OUT OF FUEL. WE BROUGHT IT IN ON 4-23-08. WE NOTED THE OIL PRESSURE, THE ELECTRICAL AND THE FUEL NOT EQUALIZING. AFTER 2 DAYS, AGAIN NOTHING WAS FOUND.

Mileage: 80,000

20080221ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER LEAKS VANADIUM PENTOXIDE FUMES AND/OR LIQUID RESIDUE. PETERBUILT AND CUMMINS ARE FIGHTING OVER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. PETERBILT SAYS THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEMS NOW, ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM A TEAM OF ENGINEERS IS WORKING ON IT. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THEY SEE NO PROBLEM WITH ALLOWING A CANCEROUS SUBSTANCE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

20080206ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER LEAKS VANADIUM PENTOXIDE FUMES AND/OR LIQUID RESIDUE. PETERBILT AND CUMMINS ARE FIGHTING OVER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. PETERBILT SAYS THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM NOW, ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM A TEAM OF ENGINEERS IS WORKING ON IT. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THEY SEE NO PROBLEM WITH ALLOWING A CANCEROUS SUBSTANCE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

Compare 2008PETERBILT386 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 PETERBILT 386 have?
The 2008 PETERBILT 386 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 PETERBILT 386?
Yes, the 2008 PETERBILT 386 has 14 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 2008 PETERBILT 386?
The most-complained component for the 2008 PETERBILT 386 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2008 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.