How many recalls does the 2020 Peterbilt 389 have?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Peterbilt 389 as of October 16, 2026. Each includes the defect description, safety consequence, and the remedy Peterbilt will perform. New recalls can be issued at any time; this page is refreshed from NHTSA daily.

How do I tell if my 2020 Peterbilt 389 is affected by a recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN — stamped at the base of the windshield on the driver side and on the door jamb sticker — at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall; the list on this page covers every campaign for the 2020 Peterbilt 389.

Are recall repairs on a 2020 Peterbilt 389 free?

Usually. Federal law requires Peterbilt to remedy recalls on the 2020 389 free of charge at an authorized Peterbilt dealer, regardless of how many owners the vehicle has had or how many miles are on the odometer — unless it was first sold more than 15 years before the recall was issued (5 years for tires).

Does a recall on the 2020 Peterbilt 389 affect resale value?

An open recall can reduce resale value; a recall that has been repaired (documented in the vehicle history report) generally does not. Before you buy or sell a used 2020 Peterbilt 389, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm every recall has been remedied.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2020 Peterbilt 389?

No owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Peterbilt 389.

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2020 Peterbilt 389 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2020 Peterbilt 389 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 0 owner complaints on file as of October 16, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Peterbilt dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2020 Peterbilt 389. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS

NHTSA #22V277000

Reported April 25, 2022 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 17,641 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

NHTSA #21V906000

Reported November 19, 2021 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 908 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #20V506000

Reported August 26, 2020 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 1,097 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

NHTSA #20V130000

Reported March 4, 2020 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 35,671 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

NHTSA #19V911000

Reported December 19, 2019 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 148 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Peterbilt 389 model years

Check your 2020 Peterbilt 389 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Peterbilt 389 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Peterbilt VIN