Reliability & cost of ownership
Peterbilt 389 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Peterbilt 389? 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 389 problems by model year
139 recall entries and 23 owner complaints on file across 22 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 389 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2024 389 | 5 | 2 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2023 389 | 6 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 389 | 7 | 4 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 389 | 6 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 389 | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 389 | 6 | 3 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 389 | 6 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 389 | 7 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 389 | 8 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 389 | 10 | 7 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 389 | 7 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 389 | 8 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 389 | 9 | 1 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 389 | 7 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 389 | 7 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 389 | 12 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 389 | 12 | 3 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 389 | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 389 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 389 | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 389 | 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 389, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system5 complaints
- wheels4 complaints
- tires4 complaints
- structure3 complaints
- engine2 complaints
- electronic stability control (esc)2 complaints
- unknown or other2 complaints
- steering2 complaints