Reliability & cost of ownership
Peterbilt 388 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Peterbilt 388? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Peterbilt 388 problems by model year
105 recall entries and 20 owner complaints on file across 16 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 388 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2018 388 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 388 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2016 388 | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 388 | 7 | 3 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 388 | 8 | 17 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 388 | 9 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 388 | 10 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 388 | 11 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 388 | 11 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 388 | 15 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 388 | 17 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 388 | 7 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 388 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 388 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 388 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Peterbilt 388, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- tires13 complaints
- wheels11 complaints
- structure4 complaints
- electrical system2 complaints
- engine1 complaint
- fuel/propulsion system1 complaint
- engine and engine cooling1 complaint
- unknown or other1 complaint