2015 Peterbilt 388
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Peterbilt › 388 › 2015
These records cover every 2015 Peterbilt 388. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
7 recalls name the 2015 Peterbilt 388. Newest first.
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-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy
PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
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 maximum 12,350 lbs allowed. As such, these vehicles fail to…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the truck exceeds the load rating on the tire, the tire may suddenly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will replace the 8.25" front wheels with 9.00" wheels and re-program the maximum vehicle speed to the appropriate settings, free of charge. The recall began on January 14, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's recall campaign number for this recall is 1115Q.
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 Peterbilt 567 auto hauler vehicles. The affected trucks are…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Higher vehicle speeds and other factors such as tire load and road temperatures may result in premature tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine's vehicle speed parameters to limit the maximum vehicle speed to the tire speed rating, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 1115P.
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 may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 715-K.
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 pressure below the actual correct amount. As such, these…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the tires are underinflated due to the incorrect inflation pressure listed on the label, the truck may not be able to carry the maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) load listed without experiencing tire failure which would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Peterbilt will notify owners and mail them a corrected Tire and Rim certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-D.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Undertorqued tie rod end clamp bolts are susceptible to corrosion, which may cause loose bolts to separate resulting in a loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy
PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle tie rod assembly on any vehicle where the factory installed assembly has not been previously replaced, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 11, 2015. The recall began on April 4, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 215-C.
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 that circuit blows, the side air bag would be disabled but…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Without a warning of a problem existing in the side air bag system, the driver may continue to operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury from the side air bag not deploying in the event of a rollover.
Remedy
PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will install a new electrical harness to correct them problem, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. Paccar's number for this recall is 514-F.
Owner complaints
3 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Wheels
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…
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
- Structure › Body · Wheels
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
- Electrical system · Structure › Body · Tires · Wheels
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
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 11010926Info Only Unnecessary starter replacements can result from customer complaints regarding engine starting issues. A new Starter Troubleshooting Guide has been created to provide a comprehensive list of starting system checks, which should reduce unnecessary starter replacements and associated warranty claims. Engine starting system warranty claims now require a completed Starter Checklist, a Battery Pack Midtronics Report, and a Cable Drop Midtronics Report. Claims filed without these documents may be denied.
- 11010896Fix-As-Fail The window switch fails prematurely due to excessive amperage flowing through the window switch circuit. A new door harness design has been developed to prevent failures. Fix-As-Fail start date is 11/11/2024.
- 10219235The service information for Bendix Air Dryer maintenance is being updated to include new procedures.
- 10195276Instrumentation - SmartNav 2.0 Software Update - Peterbilt vehicles manufactured between July 01, 2015 through November 12, 2015 with the SmartNav 2.0 system have some SmartNav features, including truck navigation and Bluetooth phone service disabled at the time of delivery to ensure proper system functionality. These features are now available for activation.
- 10195273HVAC - Sleeper Heater O-ring Coolant Leak Phase 2 - Peterbilt has determined that vehicles built between 08/01/2013 and 08/01/2014 and were manufactured fwith a sleeper heater may have sleeper heater o-rings that are incompatible with the extended-life coolant (ELC) usedin the PACCAR heating systems and may develop leaks.
- 10188550Information Only Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.
- 10179370Fix as Fail: Peterbilt has determined that certain model 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks, built between 4/13/2010 and 3/16/2020 and equipped with a flush mounted battery box, utilized rubber washers that could rub through and cause the aluminum box mounting tabs to rub directly on the steel frame brackets. This could result in cracked battery box mounting angles. Resolution is to add the reinforcement bracket(s) to affected vehicles.
- 10177935Fix-As-Fail - Bendix New-Gen Lightweight Steer Axle Drum Brake Spider Cracking
- 10177021Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.
- 10177019Fix as Fail: For all conventional models, except 387/587, equipped with Side-of-Cab (SOC) exhaust and built from 03/6/2006 to 1/20/2020, the clamps that secure the SOC exhaust stacks may not be tightened properly. This may allow the exhaust stack to rotate and contact the cab or sleeper.
- 10176033Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.
- 10173583DEF tank covers may become loose and potentially crack on vehicles built before October 2019 with DEF tank part number M86-6221-003**(TANK-DEF MEDIUM ASSY) and M86-6222-003**(TANK-DEF LARGE, ASSY). Resolution is to resolve the vibration on the tank cover by adding bottom tank washers.
- 10173212Information Only Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to water intrusion and corrosion in some vehicles.
- 10173205Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.
- 10172036Information Only: Vehicles may have the connector seal on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to sensor corrosion.
- 10169787Information Only - Vehicles built with NAMUX software from 2013 to present may experience accuracy issues with the tachometer. The issue can be temporarily resolved using any one of the included procedures.
- 10168703Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.
- 10165711Non Safety Campaign: Peterbilt has determined that certain Model 365, 384, 386, 388, 389, 3895, 587 and 579 vehicles built between March 27, 2012 and January 20, 2019 with Flex Air suspension in a 6x2 configuration have U-bolts that may fail prematurely.
- 10165583Information Only This bulletin provides information about the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP) and Heavy Duty Vehicle Inspection Program (HDVIP).
- 10164378Fix-As-Fail - Composite fittings used in the cooling system may crack, resulting in coolant leaks. Brass fittings are available to replace the composite fittings.
- 10164375Fix-As-Fail: Two separate causes have been identified as root cause of intermittent low coolant indicator illumination.
- 10162392Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs.
- 10159674Information Only: Proper instructions for closure of power distribution box cover to prevent corrosion.
- 10154733Information: Bendix ACOM Software version 6.16.5.0 for diagnostics may introduce an unrecoverable error. Notice to dealers to replace this version with older software version until Bendix introduces new version.
- 10143649Information - Recommended Practices for Updating ESA Software
- 10128643Fix-As-Fail ? There is an updated plug to fix leaking steer axle hubcaps.
Every Peterbilt 388 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.