Total Complaints
6 filings
PETERBILT 389 · model year
6 NHTSA complaints, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2019PETERBILT389 carries 6 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 2019 389 is tires with 1 filings, followed by structure:body (1) and unknown or other (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 6 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 2019 389. 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.
Total Complaints
6 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS
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
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and 2018-2019 Kenworth C500, T270, T370, T440, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks equipped with automated manual transmissions. An internal component in the clutch assembly may
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Kenworth C500, T600, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks, as well as Peterbilt 367, 386, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, equipped with Cummins ISX15 or X15 diesel engines. In certain driving conditions, such as on a long down-hill grade,
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
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 ro
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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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
- The steering arm on the driver side of the Dana D-Series axle that was installed from the Peterbilt factory on a new 2019 Peterbilt 389 that was purchased new by Acord Transportation, Inc. is what failed. The steering arm on the D-Series axle bolts to the steering knuckle with two bolts as opposed to being one solid cast piece as in other families of Dana axles - such as the E-Series. When backing into a parking space the two bolts holding the steering arm to the steering knuckle broke, causing the steering arm to come free from the steering knuckle - ultimately causing a catastrophic failure and a complete loss of steering. Peterbilt took the steering arm for inspection following the failure, but did not return it to us. - Had this incident occurred while traveling on a public roadway, the driver would have lost all ability to steer the commercial vehicle (which could potentially be weighing 80,000 lbs and transporting hazardous materials) and would have no control over where the u
- The steering arm on the driver side of the Dana D-Series axle that was installed from the Peterbilt factory on a new 2019 Peterbilt 389 that was purchased new by Acord Transportation, Inc. is what failed. The steering arm on the D-Series axle bolts to the steering knuckle with two bolts as opposed to being one solid cast piece as in other families of Dana axles - such as the E-Series. When backing into a parking space the two bolts holding the steering arm to the steering knuckle broke, causing the steering arm to come free from the steering knuckle - ultimately causing a catastrophic failure and a complete loss of steering. Peterbilt took the steering arm for inspection following the failure, but did not return it to us. - Had this incident occurred while traveling on a public roadway, the driver would have lost all ability to steer the commercial vehicle (which could potentially be weighing 80,000 lbs and transporting hazardous materials) and would have no control over where the u
- The steering arm on the driver side of the Dana D-Series axle that was installed from the Peterbilt factory on a new 2019 Peterbilt 389 that was purchased new by Acord Transportation, Inc. is what failed. The steering arm on the D-Series axle bolts to the steering knuckle with two bolts as opposed to being one solid cast piece as in other families of Dana axles - such as the E-Series. When backing into a parking space the two bolts holding the steering arm to the steering knuckle broke, causing the steering arm to come free from the steering knuckle - ultimately causing a catastrophic failure and a complete loss of steering. Peterbilt took the steering arm for inspection following the failure, but did not return it to us. - Had this incident occurred while traveling on a public roadway, the driver would have lost all ability to steer the commercial vehicle (which could potentially be weighing 80,000 lbs and transporting hazardous materials) and would have no control over where the u
WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK MARCH 4, 2018. SINCE THAT DATE A TOTAL OF THREE (3) PASSENGER QUARTER FENDERS HAVE "FALLEN OFF" THE TRUCK. THE LAST SET HAD LOCK TIGHT ON THE BOLT. IT IS ONLY INVOLVING THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNSURE IF THE BOLT BROKE OR JUST BACKED OUT. THE LAST ONE WHEN IT CAME OFF HIT OUR PRIMARY AIR LINE AND KINKED IT. LUCKY IT DIDN'T SEVER IT. ALSO WE HAVE HAD THREE (3) "COUNTRY" HORNS VIBRATE INTO PIECES. ALSO THE LAST HORN WAS ATTACHED WITH LOCK TIGHT TO PREVENT THE BUGLES FROM COMING OFF AS DIRECTED BY THE SUPPLIER. ALL THE BUGLES HAVE FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE TIRED OF REPLACING PARTS THAT VIBRATE OR BREAK OFF ON A NEW TRUCK!!!! THE FENDERS GO UNDER OUR DRIVES AND OUT THE BACK. FORTUNATELY NOBODY HAS BEEN INJURED DUE TO THE FLAW OF THIS PART. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN ALL INSTANCES ON A HIGHWAY. VARIOUS DATES WITH THE LATEST INDICATED. THE AIR COMPRESSOR STARTED MAKING A STRANGE SOUND BEFORE IT
Mileage: 160,000
WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK MARCH 4, 2018. SINCE THAT DATE A TOTAL OF THREE (3) PASSENGER QUARTER FENDERS HAVE "FALLEN OFF" THE TRUCK. THE LAST SET HAD LOCK TIGHT ON THE BOLT. IT IS ONLY INVOLVING THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNSURE IF THE BOLT BROKE OR JUST BACKED OUT. THE LAST ONE WHEN IT CAME OFF HIT OUR PRIMARY AIR LINE AND KINKED IT. LUCKY IT DIDN'T SEVER IT. ALSO WE HAVE HAD THREE (3) "COUNTRY" HORNS VIBRATE INTO PIECES. ALSO THE LAST HORN WAS ATTACHED WITH LOCK TIGHT TO PREVENT THE BUGLES FROM COMING OFF AS DIRECTED BY THE SUPPLIER. ALL THE BUGLES HAVE FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE TIRED OF REPLACING PARTS THAT VIBRATE OR BREAK OFF ON A NEW TRUCK!!!! THE FENDERS GO UNDER OUR DRIVES AND OUT THE BACK. FORTUNATELY NOBODY HAS BEEN INJURED DUE TO THE FLAW OF THIS PART. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN ALL INSTANCES ON A HIGHWAY. VARIOUS DATES WITH THE LATEST INDICATED. THE AIR COMPRESSOR STARTED MAKING A STRANGE SOUND BEFORE IT
Mileage: 160,000
I PURCHASED A 2019 PETERBILT TRUCK IN MAY OF 2018. THE FRONT LEFT STEER TIRE FAILED ON JUNE 18,2018 AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS, AND HAVING TO TAKE EMERGENCY EVASIVE ACTION. THE TIRE HAD ONLY 10,580 MILES. I CHOCKED IT UP TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A ROAD HAZARD, AND LEFT IT AT THAT. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY OCTOBER 11,2018. RIGHT SIDE STEER TIRE FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TRUCK NOW HAS 54,653 MILES ON IT. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE TIRE TODAY AND IT STRUCK ME AS ODD THAT THE SIDEWALL ON ONE SIDE SEPARATED CLEANLY FROM THE TREAD. THE OTHER SIDE ALSO SEPARATED, BUT IT SHOWS SIGNS OF TEARING THE PLYS THAT I ASSUME ARE THERE TO STRENGTHEN THE JOINT BETWEEN THE FACE AND THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES LOSING STEER TIRES IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WE COULD ENCOUNTER. I AM WORKING ON REPAIRS AS I TYPE THIS COMPLAINT. I WILL BE REPLACING THE TIRE, WHEEL, AND A BRAKE LINE THAT BECAME KINKED DUE TO THE TIRE. *DT *TR
Mileage: 54,653
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.