Check a VIN

2010 Peterbilt 386 problems

The most common problem on the 2010 Peterbilt 386 is windows, wipers and visibility. Its complaint count is close to a typical 386 model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
5
Service bulletins
22
Worst area
Visibility

The worst 2010 Peterbilt 386 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Visibility
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Visibility
    1

Recalls 5

Electronic stability control (ESC)Reported April 6, 2020 · 460,515 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
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.

Recall number 20V199000 · Recall details

Equipment: other: labelsReported November 25, 2013 · 561 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain 2004-2013 Peterbilt 379, 357, 378, 367, 388, 365, 389, 385 and 386 trucks manufactured from April 3, 2003, through October 25, 2013 and equipped with tri-drive rear axles and a tag or pusher axle. The affected vehicles may be missing required information from the certification label, specifically the tag or pusher axle the gross axle weight rating, suitable tire and rim information, and recommended tire pressure information. Without this information, the vehicles do not comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification."
Risk
As a result, the axles may be overloaded or the wrong tires could be installed or the tires could be improperly inflated. All of these issues increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Peterbilt will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the certification labels missing the necessary information. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers can contact Peterbilt at 1‑940‑591‑4000. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 1113-F.

Recall number 13V593000 · Recall details

Electrical system: softwareReported July 21, 2011 · 211 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Paccar is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 kenworth t660, t700, and t800 vehicles manufactured from april 19, 2010, through may 13, 2011, and model year 2008, 2010, and 2011 peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388 and 587 vehicles manufactured from april 20, 2010, through june 11, 2011, and equipped with paccar mx engines and eaton ultrashift dm or allison automatic transmissions (without auto-neutral). The fast idle control may be activated by the operator while the transmission is in gear.
Risk
If the fast idle control function is engaged with the transmission in gear, the vehicle could unexpectedly accelerate and override the parking brake and , creating a risk of a crash and damage to other vehicles or property and the potential for injury to nearby pedestrians.
Remedy
Kenworth and peterbilt dealers will update the engine software for the affected chassis. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on august 22, 2011. Owners may contact kenworth at 1‑425‑828‑5440 and peterbilt at 1‑940‑591‑4196.

Recall number 11V380000 · Recall details

Fuel system, other: storage: tank assemblyReported February 23, 2011 · 4,664 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Paccar is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 kenworth t2000, t660, t700, t800, and w900, as well as model year 2009-2012 peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, and 587 trucks equipped with paccar mx engines. The oil module centrifugal spinner filter cap in the paccar mx engine may become loose, possibly allowing the cap to come off and engine oil to partially discharge from the oil module onto exhaust components.
Risk
The discharge of engine oil onto exhaust components which are hot, such as when the engine is under significant load, may cause a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will re-torque the oil module filter cap and install a secondary retention device on the secondary centrifugal spinner filter cap. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during march 2011. Owners may contact kenworth at 1‑425‑828‑5440 and peterbilt at 1‑940‑591‑4196.

Recall number 11V127000 · Recall details

Steering: columnReported July 2, 2010 · 9,697 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Paccar is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 trucks equipped with trw steering shafts. The circumferential weld around the steering shaft tube that welds the splined tube to the non-splined tube may be mislocated. Mislocation of the circumferential weld may allow the splined tube and non-splined tube to rotate relative to one another during a low speed, high torque turn, possibly resulting in a separation of the two tubes.
Risk
A separation of the splined and non-splined tubes would cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the steering shaft using a weld placement gauge provided by trw. Any steering shaft found to have been welded improperly will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall began on july 30, 2010. Owners may contact kenworth at 425‑828‑5440 and peterbilt at 940‑591‑4196.

Recall number 10V308000 · Recall details

See all 5 recalls for the 2010 Peterbilt 386

Defect investigations

Intermittent Loss of Power Steering AssistOpened May 1, 2020, closed March 27, 2024

On May 1, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE20006 to investigate complaints of intermittent loss of power steering assist in Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), Volvo Trucks of North America (Volvo) and PACCAR vehicles equipped with a ZF/TRW (TRW) THP60 steering gear. The investigation focused on 2010-2020 DTNA Freightliner Cascadia, M2 and WST; Volvo VN, VAH and VHD and PACCAR 337, 365, 389, 567, 579 model vehicles.Field reports and interviews with fleet drivers allege that high power steering fluid temperatures could result in internal seal and bearing failures causing pressure fluctuation, affecting left and right-hand turns. The inability of the driver to steer the vehicle as intended can increase the risk of a crash and injury. ODI analyzed data provided by TRW, DTNA, Volvo, and PACCAR in response to individual information request letters.ODI found that most failures occurred within the first two years and/or 50,000 miles of service.  The claim rate decreased with time and miles in service and remained less than 0.5%. ODI normalized data from each of the manufacturers and determined that there was not a substantial difference in the failures.Additionally, TRW improved a seal in the steering gear in December 2015.Trucks built on or after 2016 (as 2017 and newer model years) show a decreasing trend of failures. In view of the overall low failure rate, the nature of early-life failure, and failure rate trending downward for model years 2017 and newer, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to

PE20006

Technical service bulletins for the 2010 Peterbilt 386 22

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 22 bulletins for the 2010 Peterbilt 386

What 2010 Peterbilt 386 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 16, 2010 · Visibility · TX

2010 peterbilt 386, rain water beads on the side windows and does not get blown off. As this beading builds up on the windows and the mirror, it becomes very difficult to see anything in the mirrors. When this occurs at night it is impossible to see anything in the mirrors. Changing lanes in these conditions is extremely dangerous.

Compare the 2010 Peterbilt 386

Other model years

20052007200820092010201120122013

Questions about the 2010 Peterbilt 386

Is the 2010 Peterbilt 386 reliable?

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2010 Peterbilt 386, close to a typical 386 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 Peterbilt 386?

Windows, wipers and visibility, with 1 complaint.

How many recalls does the 2010 Peterbilt 386 have?

5 recalls, covering electronic stability control (esc), equipment and electrical system.

Share your experience with the 2010 Peterbilt 386

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2010 Peterbilt 386?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN