PETERBILT 387 · model year

2008 PETERBILT 387

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008PETERBILT387 carries 7 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 387 is engine with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and fuel/propulsion system (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 387. 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.

7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

7 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
ENGINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (14)

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

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.

06V49000021/12/2006

SUSPENSION

ON SOME PETERBILT TRUCKS, CERTAIN PARTS USED IN THE AIR SUSPENSIONS HAVE A HIGH COPPER CONTENT CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.

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.

09V01900016/01/2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

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 PART

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.

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

15V13200006/03/2015

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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

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

20151015SERVICE BRAKES

BEFORE THE ABOVE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, OF NOTE IS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AS WELL AS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF SAME TRUCK. FUSSELL TRUCK SALES RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015. I PLACED VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER ON TODAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2015, AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WAS ON DUE TO A NEED TO UNDERLYING NEED FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND REGENT SYSTEM , WHICH DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2015, AND HAS A 30-DAY WARRANTY, AND I AM EXERCISING MY RIGHTS TO SURRENDER THE ABOVED MENTIONED VEHICLE AS UNSAFE AND A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS TRUCK DOES NOT COMPLY WITH NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY REGULATIONS.

20151015POWER TRAIN

BEFORE THE ABOVE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED, OF NOTE IS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AS WELL AS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF SAME TRUCK. FUSSELL TRUCK SALES RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015. I PLACED VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER ON TODAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2015, AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WAS ON DUE TO A NEED TO UNDERLYING NEED FOR A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND REGENT SYSTEM , WHICH DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2015, AND HAS A 30-DAY WARRANTY, AND I AM EXERCISING MY RIGHTS TO SURRENDER THE ABOVED MENTIONED VEHICLE AS UNSAFE AND A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS TRUCK DOES NOT COMPLY WITH NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY REGULATIONS.

20150618ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PETERBILT 387. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DPF MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THE VEHICLE TO STALL. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND HAD BEEN SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE ENTIRE DPF SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.

Mileage: 300,000

20140728FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FIRST, MY TURBO WENT OUT JUNE24TH 2014. SECOND THE D.P.F FILTER AND SENSORS. I ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 90DAYS AND ALREADY SPENT OVER 9000 DOLLARS ON IT. *JS

Mileage: 695,000

20140728ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRST, MY TURBO WENT OUT JUNE24TH 2014. SECOND THE D.P.F FILTER AND SENSORS. I ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 90DAYS AND ALREADY SPENT OVER 9000 DOLLARS ON IT. *JS

Mileage: 695,000

20140728ENGINE

FIRST, MY TURBO WENT OUT JUNE24TH 2014. SECOND THE D.P.F FILTER AND SENSORS. I ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 90DAYS AND ALREADY SPENT OVER 9000 DOLLARS ON IT. *JS

Mileage: 695,000

20090205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PETERBILT 387. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DPS INJECTORS WOULD NOT REGENERATE ON THE VEHICLE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY DECELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE DIESEL ENGINE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V019000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL) AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Mileage: 80,000

Compare 2008PETERBILT387 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 PETERBILT 387 have?
The 2008 PETERBILT 387 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 PETERBILT 387?
Yes, the 2008 PETERBILT 387 has 14 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 PETERBILT 387?
The most-complained component for the 2008 PETERBILT 387 is ENGINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2008 PETERBILT 387 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.