2020 PETERBILT 389 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
0
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2020 PETERBILT 389
The 2020 PETERBILT 389 has received a total of 0 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by PACCAR Incorporated for this model year.
Recalls for the 2020 PETERBILT 389
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 2020 PETERBILT 389, potentially affecting up to 56,521 vehicles.
Recall 22V277000 — STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS
| 17,641 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 knuckle may fail.
Consequence: Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace and torque the steer arm fasteners, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are...
View full details →Recall 21V906000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
| 908 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 roll.
Consequence: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWG and 21PBM.
View full details →Recall 21V906000 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
| 908 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 roll.
Consequence: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWG and 21PBM.
View full details →Recall 20V506000 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
| 1,097 vehicles affected
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Peterbilt 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567 and Kenworth T800, T880, W900, W990 vehicles equipped with Watson and Chalin steerable lift axle suspension systems (model SL2065). The axles may have lower rear pivot bolts that are not long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts.
Consequence: The short screws can cause the hardware to separate from the suspension system and become road hazards, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect suspect chassis and replace the pivot bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220....
View full details →Recall 20V130000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
| 35,671 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 and result in an electrical short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall...
View full details →Recall 19V911000 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
| 148 vehicles affected
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Kenworth T800, T880 and W990 and Peterbilt 348, 367, 389, 520, and 567 vehicles. The forward rear axle output shafts may have been improperly heat treated during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the shafts fracturing.
Consequence: If the rear axle output shaft fractures, the shaft or interaxle driveline could detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the output shafts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers...
View full details →Recall 19V911000 — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
| 148 vehicles affected
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020 Kenworth T800, T880 and W990 and Peterbilt 348, 367, 389, 520, and 567 vehicles. The forward rear axle output shafts may have been improperly heat treated during manufacturing, possibly resulting in the shafts fracturing.
Consequence: If the rear axle output shaft fractures, the shaft or interaxle driveline could detach and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the output shafts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2020 PETERBILT 389
No complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2020 PETERBILT 389.
Safety Rating for the 2020 PETERBILT 389
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2020 PETERBILT 389 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2020 PETERBILT 389
PACCAR Incorporated has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2020 PETERBILT 389. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
52-004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:BLINDSPOT:SOFTWARE
Fix-as-Fail: Radio does not mute when truck with auto trans is placed in reverse. Software flash resolves issue.
14-027 — EQUIPMENT
Information only: In 2020, Peterbilt and Kenworth began using the same M10, M12, M16, and M20 frame fasteners on all vehicles. Torque specifications for these fasteners are different from previous fasteners.
19PBG — POWER TRAIN
Safety Recall: Peterbilt Motors Company has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, may exist in certain model 348, 367, 389, 520 or 567 vehicles manufactured between November 22, 2019 and December 5, 2019. Output shafts may not have been correctly heat-treated and could break near the...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2020 PETERBILT 389
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the PETERBILT 389
- 2015 PETERBILT 389 — 12 complaints
- 2016 PETERBILT 389 — 0 complaints
- 2017 PETERBILT 389 — 2 complaints
- 2018 PETERBILT 389 — 0 complaints
- 2019 PETERBILT 389 — 6 complaints
- 2020 PETERBILT 389 (current)
- 2021 PETERBILT 389 — 1 complaint
- 2022 PETERBILT 389 — 5 complaints
- 2023 PETERBILT 389 — 0 complaints
- 2024 PETERBILT 389 — 2 complaints
- 2025 PETERBILT 389 — 0 complaints
Other PETERBILT Models
- PETERBILT 379 — 76 total complaints
- PETERBILT 579 — 52 total complaints
- PETERBILT PETERBILT — 40 total complaints
- PETERBILT 388 — 36 total complaints
- PETERBILT 357 — 19 total complaints
- PETERBILT 386 — 14 total complaints
- PETERBILT 387 — 14 total complaints
- PETERBILT 567 — 11 total complaints