Total Complaints
7 filings
PETERBILT 388 · model year
2015 PETERBILT 388
7 NHTSA complaints, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2015PETERBILT388 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 2015 388 is wheels with 3 filings, followed by structure:body (2) and electrical 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 7 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 2015 388. 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
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 |
|---|---|
| WHEELS | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recalls (7)
15V88900031/12/2015
TIRES
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2015 Peterbilt model 388 vehicles manufactured from January 28, 2014, through February 3, 2014. The affected vehicles were built with Michelin MN295/60 R22.5 XZA front tires and 8.25" wheels and were certified to a GAWR greater than the m
14V28300029/05/2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Peterbilt 579, 388, 384, 367, 365, 348, and 337 trucks manufactured October 30, 2009, through May 21, 2014. In the affected vehicles, if power is interrupted to the seat electronic control unit (ECU), such as when the fuse for t
15V10800024/02/2015
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Peterbilt 320, 365, 367, 388, and 389 trucks manufactured July 21, 2008, to February 28, 2014. The front axle tie rod end clamp bolts may be improperly torqued.
15V45600022/07/2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that ma
15V74000009/11/2015
TIRES
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Peterbilt 340, 2010, 2012, and 2015-2016 Peterbilt 337, 2010 Peterbilt 335, 2011-2016 Peterbilt 348, 2009 and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 365, 2009 and 2012-2013 Peterbilt 386, 2009-2015 Peterbilt 388, 2015-2016 Peterbilt 389, and 2015 P
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
Recent Complaints
20141118WHEELS
6 PETERBILT MY COMPANY OPERATES ARE 2014 AND 2015 CAR HAULERS. ALL ARE CONSISTENTLY DESTROYING REAR AXEL TIRES BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER (THREAD IS COMING OUT). DAMAGED SEEMS TO HAPPEN DUE TO OVERHEAT OF TIRES. WE TRIED USING DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES, BUT BLOW OUT DID NOT STOP. WE TOOK TRUCKS TO [XXX] AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THREAD FROM DRIVE TIRE IS COMING OFF AND TIRE STILL HOLDS AIR. IT DAMAGES ALL LIGHTS ON TRUCK THEN IT DAMAGES MUD GUARDS AND BREAKS SAFETY WINGS ON THE TRAILER. EACH TIME COSTS ABOUT 2000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. ONLY SOLUTION WE FOUND AT THIS TIME TO RUN ALL POSITION TIRES ON DRIVE TIRES. SO FAR WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES FOR PAST 30 DAYS. LAST TRUCK WE PURCHASED FROM [XXX] , THEY AGREED TO SWAP TIRES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO ALL POSITION... NO SOLUTION IS OFFERED TO US. WE HAVE LOST OVER $40,000 SO FAR ON BRAND NEW TRUCKS... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
20141110WHEELS
TRACTOR BLEW A MICHELIN XZA (295/60/22.5) PASSENGER SIDE STEER TIRE. DRIVER FELT A VIBRATION AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER WHEN IT BLEW. *TR
Mileage: 83,000
20141110STRUCTURE:BODY
TRACTOR BLEW A MICHELIN XZA (295/60/22.5) PASSENGER SIDE STEER TIRE. DRIVER FELT A VIBRATION AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER WHEN IT BLEW. *TR
Mileage: 83,000
20141104WHEELS
2015 BRAND NEW PETE 388 CAR HAULER. FRONT ORIGINAL TIRE MICHELIN XZA 2 SIZE 295/60/22.5 BLEW UP. DAMAGED FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND 2 TIRES WERE DAMAGED ON DRIVE SAME SIDE. PAID $1500 FOR ROAD SERVICE. HOOD, BUMPER LIGHT ARE DAMAGED. TRUCK ONLY 3 MONTH OLD. 4TH BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH ON 4 SEPARATE TRUCKS. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20141104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2015 BRAND NEW PETE 388 CAR HAULER. FRONT ORIGINAL TIRE MICHELIN XZA 2 SIZE 295/60/22.5 BLEW UP. DAMAGED FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND 2 TIRES WERE DAMAGED ON DRIVE SAME SIDE. PAID $1500 FOR ROAD SERVICE. HOOD, BUMPER LIGHT ARE DAMAGED. TRUCK ONLY 3 MONTH OLD. 4TH BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH ON 4 SEPARATE TRUCKS. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20141104STRUCTURE:BODY
2015 BRAND NEW PETE 388 CAR HAULER. FRONT ORIGINAL TIRE MICHELIN XZA 2 SIZE 295/60/22.5 BLEW UP. DAMAGED FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND 2 TIRES WERE DAMAGED ON DRIVE SAME SIDE. PAID $1500 FOR ROAD SERVICE. HOOD, BUMPER LIGHT ARE DAMAGED. TRUCK ONLY 3 MONTH OLD. 4TH BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH ON 4 SEPARATE TRUCKS. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
20141104TIRES
2015 BRAND NEW PETE 388 CAR HAULER. FRONT ORIGINAL TIRE MICHELIN XZA 2 SIZE 295/60/22.5 BLEW UP. DAMAGED FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND 2 TIRES WERE DAMAGED ON DRIVE SAME SIDE. PAID $1500 FOR ROAD SERVICE. HOOD, BUMPER LIGHT ARE DAMAGED. TRUCK ONLY 3 MONTH OLD. 4TH BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH ON 4 SEPARATE TRUCKS. *TR
Mileage: 73,000
Compare 2015PETERBILT388 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2015 PETERBILT 388 have?▼
The 2015 PETERBILT 388 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 PETERBILT 388?▼
Yes, the 2015 PETERBILT 388 has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is TIRES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 PETERBILT 388?▼
The most-complained component for the 2015 PETERBILT 388 is WHEELS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2015 PETERBILT 388 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.