2020 Peterbilt 389
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Peterbilt › 389 › 2020
These records cover every 2020 Peterbilt 389. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 2020 Peterbilt 389. Newest first.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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 22 PBB and 22 KWB.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
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. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 20PBE and 20KWC.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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 is 20PBA.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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 for this recall are 19KWE and 19PBG.
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.
- 110097577/700 Service Agreement - Letter Only.
- 11005516Fix As Fail The height control valve (HCV) rod on vehicles with low air leaf suspensions is prone to toggling over center during rough road conditions. With full suspension articulation, HCV bracket flexes and toggles over center the HCV linkage, which results in either deflated airbags or makes them unable to inflate. Fix-as-fail start date is 07/30/2024.
- 10245639Fix As Fail Updated: Two part numbers added: 1818119 DPF Delta Pressure Sensors for MX-13-2 EMY18 2200138 DPF Delta Pressure Sensors for MX-13 -2, EMY19 Per Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) regulations and guidance (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)), a letter has been provided to owners of Canadian registered chassis that provides a list of emissions components that have been reported (to ECCC) as having a defect.
- 10232162Fix As Fail Chassis that were manufactured with certain battery cable routing brackets may experience rubbing or chafing of the battery cables.
- 10227181Certain model 389 chassis are experiencing freezing of the A/C evaporator or frosting of the compressor and suction line. A field resolution is available to solve this issue.
- 1022716734-093 Model 389 78-inch Sleeper 12V Power Port Supplier Change
- 10225580Clutch pedal linkage lubrication service interval information is missing from the Service manual for Model 365, 367, and 389 chassis.
- 10225578Info Only - PACCAR is introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates for engine MY17 and newer chassis equipped with Cummins X15, X12, ISX12, ISX12N, L9N, PX-7, and PX-9 engines The technology will leverage the existing Remote Diagnostic cs hardware to deliver secure software updates remotely. This will reduce downtime and save on maintenance costs for eligible vehicles.
- 10222269Fix-As-Fail On certain chassis with Low Air Leaf Suspension or Low-Low Air Leaf Suspension, the Height Control Valve (HCV) arm may be rubbing on other components when the bend in the arm is facing outboard. Flipping the bend in the HCV arm inboard prevents the rub.
- 10219235The service information for Bendix Air Dryer maintenance is being updated to include new procedures.
- 10218894During PTO mode, the engine will not ramp up to the set RPM speed.
- 10209699Fix-As-Fail A hill start assist (HSA) valve plumbing revision eliminates ice buildup in the HSA valve exhaust in cold weather.
- 10208758Due to major data carriers phasing out 3G networks, chassis currently utilizing first generation Peoplenet Mobile Gateway (PMG001) will experience severe 3G service degradation as early as January of 2022. Chassis currently utilizing 3G antennas as a primary antenna may experience this degradation.
- 10208756A frame mounted left-hand marker light bracket interferes with the rear fuel tank fill location. A redesigned bracket can be purchased that relocates the marker bracket to the front fuel tank bracket to eliminate interference.
- 10207153Retrofit - The emissions exemption will be expiring on 5/15/2022 for certain pre-production vehicles equipped with PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 EPA 2021 Emissions engines. Production-level components are now available to make these vehicles compliant.
- 10206090Safety Recall Work Brake May Unintentionally Disengage NHTSA ID: 21V906, TC: 2021-713. The work brake (also known as winch brake) may unintentionally disengage during winching operations, releasing the service brakes, increasing the risk of crash or injury. The VECU software will be updated to correctly set the speed interlock parameter.
- 10201965Fix-As-Fail Due to undersupply issues, only a limited supply of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensors are available. As a temporary solution, after PACCAR confirms a DEF sensor is not available, a temporary software update will allow a vehicle to continue operation with a failed DEF sensor by disabling the DEF sensor diagnostics.
- 10201956Information Only - Rear axle Quarter Fenders with less than two inches of clearance between the top of the quarter fender and the bottom of the trailer/equipment are susceptible to damage. The lack of clearance could result in cracked/broken quarter fenders or complete separation if undetected or un-remedied.
- 10201946Safety RecallHill Start Assist (HSA) Valve Clearance NHTSA ID: 21V-648, TC: 2021-521. Crossmember mounted Hill Start Assist valve may not have sufficient clearance to the rear axle, resulting in hose or fitting damage. Damage could cause the loss of rear brake signal, resulting in reduced braking capability and increasing the risk of a crash.
- 10199985Fix-as-Fail: Radio does not mute when truck with auto trans is placed in reverse. Software flash resolves issue.
- 10198812Safety Recall Interim Notification - The Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may turn off while the vehicle is in motion and the headlamps, fog lamps or turn signals are not on. This is non-compliant with Canadian Regulation CMVSS 108, which states that the DRLs must be on while the vehicle is in motion without certain other lamps being activated. This bulletin will be updated when a repair is available.
- 10189956Safety Campaign - Cummins Engine Flywheel Capscrews improperly torqued. Cummins Recall C2402.
- 10188550Information Only Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.
- 10186168SmartNav 2.0 Hardware retrofit for quality validation and vehicle validation units.
- 10182219Fix as Fail: Peterbilt has introduced an improved mounting bracket for low mount air tanks for vehicles built between January 01, 2017 and July 06, 2020. Torsional vibration may stress the currently-installed brackets and cause them to fail near the bottom of the frame rail.
- 10180809Safety Recall: Peterbilt has decided that a condition could exist in certain model 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, and 567 vehicles built between 11/19/2019 and 4/09/2020. Vehicles equipped with Watson & Chalin SL2065 lift axles may have lower rear pivot bolts that are not long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts. In some cases, this condition may cause a loss of clamp load of the pivot joint (arm to axle). Extended use of the lift axle in this condition can result in foreign object debris on the roadway, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
- 10180726Information 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.
- 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.
- 10174763"Safety Recall: NHTSA recall number is 20V130. A defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, may exist in certain Model 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles manufactured between April 18, 2014 and March 09, 2020 with a left-hand under hood jumper start terminal. Jumper terminal battery cables may be too long, or eligible for improved routing. Battery cables that are too long may chafe against the left front suspension leaf spring, which could cause a short circuit, fire under the hood, or increased risk of crash. "
- 10173211Safety Recall Interim Bulletin: Peterbilt has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, may exist in certain Model 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles manufactured between April 18, 2014 and September 30, 2019 with a left-hand under hood jumper start terminal. Your vehicle may have jumper terminal battery cables that are too long, or are eligible for improved routing. Battery cables that are too long may chafe against the left front suspension leaf spring, which could cause a short circuit, fire under the hood, or increased risk of crash.
- 10173205Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.
- 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.
- 10169785Safety 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 pinion nut. Resolution is to inspect the driveshaft to verify the julian date, and if witin th esupect date rate,, replace the output shaft.
- 10168703Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.
Every Peterbilt 389 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.