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2017 Peterbilt 389 problems

The most common problem on the 2017 Peterbilt 389 is electrical system. It has fewer complaints than a typical 389 model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
7
Service bulletins
561 warranty
Worst area
Electrical

The worst 2017 Peterbilt 389 problems

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

  • Electrical
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Problems by type

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

  • Electrical
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Recalls 7

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

Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cablesReported March 4, 2020 · 35,671 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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
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.

Recall number 20V130000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engine: dieselReported September 21, 2018 · 48,896 vehicles affected
What is wrong
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Kenworth C500, T600, T660, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks, as well as Peterbilt 367, 386, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, equipped with Cummins ISX15 or X15 diesel engines. In certain driving conditions, such as on a long down-hill grade, the fuel line may burst if the fuel pump cooling circuit screen becomes restricted.
Risk
If the fuel line bursts, fuel may leak onto the road resulting in a roadway hazard for other motorists. The engine may also stall without warning, resulting in the vehicle's inability to restart, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Cummins will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect fuel pump cooling circuit screen, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 18E081.

Recall number 18V657000 · Recall details

Fuel system, dieselReported July 13, 2017 · 1,737 vehicles affected
What is wrong
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, 579 and 587 trucks, and 2018 Kenworth C500, T680, T800, T880 and W900 trucks equipped with Cummins ISX 15L engines. These engines have a fuel pump whose drive gear could possibly slip on its drive shaft, causing a fuel pump function loss, resulting in an engine stall.
Risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Cummins will notify the vehicle purchaser, and Cummins dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2017. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1‑800‑286‑6467 or PACCAR customer service at 1‑425‑468‑7400. PACCAR's number for this recall is C1909.

Recall number 17V443000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported December 5, 2016 · 2,046 vehicles affected
What is wrong
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2017 Peterbilt 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 386, 389, and 587 vehicles manufactured April 20, 2016, to June 13, 2016. The brake lights may not illuminate when the brakes are applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk
If the brake lights do not illuminate when the brakes are applied, other drivers will be unaware the vehicle is stopping, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any brake light switches with date code 08-01760, free of charge. The recall began on January 26, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. Paccar's number for this recall is 816-F.

Recall number 16V872000 · Recall details

TiresReported November 4, 2016 · 202 vehicles affected
What is wrong
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2017 Kenworth K370, T270, T370, T440, T660, T800 trucks manufactured February 2, 2016, to October 13, 2016, and Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 367, 389, 567, and 579 trucks manufactured March 7, 2016, to October 5, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain Goodyear LHS Load Range G tires, size 295/75R22.5 G399A, that due to incomplete adhesion, have a tire tread that may partially separate.
Risk
A partial tread separation may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Goodyear will notify the owners of the affected Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles and Goodyear dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2016. To find a Goodyear dealer, owners should contact Goodyear Consumer Relations at 1‑800‑592‑3267. Consumers may also contact Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000 and Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 1016G (PB) (Peterbilt), and 16KWC (Kenworth).

Recall number 16V803000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignition: moduleReported June 10, 2016 · 3,227 vehicles affected
What is wrong
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2017 Kenworth C500, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured March 9, 2016, to April 26, 2016 and 2017 Peterbilt 320, 365, 367, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured March 10, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with Cummins ISX12 or ISX15 engines and have an engine control module (ECM) that may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning without the ability to restart it.
Risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Cummins will notify owners, and Cummins dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1‑800‑343‑7357, Kenworth customer service at 1‑425‑828‑5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1‑940‑591‑4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 16KWB (Kenworth) and 616-C (Peterbilt).

Recall number 16V426000 · Recall details

See all 7 recalls for the 2017 Peterbilt 389

Defect investigations

Quarter Fender FailuresOpened September 21, 2020, closed October 14, 2021

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-015) based on one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) and supporting fleet reports. The reports indicated that the subject quarter fenders were prone to cracking and/or separation.After a comprehensive review of the data related to the quarter fender failures on the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the existence of a safety-related defect trend. Quarter fender failures resulted in a warranty claim rate less than one percent (<1%) of the total vehicle population. All separations, including those due to tread separations, road hazards, etc., accounted for less than point one percent (<0.1%) of the total vehicle population.ODI discovered that the minimum recommended gap between the top of the quarter fender and the bottom of the trailer was not known or being followed. The optional quarter fenders were supplied by Fontaine Spray Systems (FSS), who recommended a two inch (2) gap. ODI analyzed the claim data using a calculated gap. A calculated gap using the top of the quarter fender flap and assuming the trailer is level with the top of the fifth wheel hitch was necessary, as PACCAR doesn't know specifically what trailer a purchaser will couple to the tractor. It is safe to assume no trailers on the market extend below the upper fifth wheel plate, but many do provide additional clearance over the wheels where the quarter fenders are located. ODI determined that 94 percent of warranty claims and 84 percent of separations violated FSS' recommendation.ODI confirmed that the VOQ vehicle and the fleet report vehicles also violated FSS' recommended gap. In one fleet the gap was negative point three inches (-0.3).PACCAR has updated its vehicle specification process and issued a customer advisory notice to existing owners. In light of the low rate of reported failures and separations, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

PE20015

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 2017 Peterbilt 389 56

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

See all 56 bulletins for the 2017 Peterbilt 389

What 2017 Peterbilt 389 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Feb 20, 2019 · Electrical, Transmission · 20,000 miles · VA

Heat from the new def requirements are causing problems. The heat off of the def system stays trapped under the vehicle. Which is causing early wear on electrical harnesses along with axle seals. I've replaced 3 wheel seals and 2 front differential seals. The def harness has failed twice now. Please look into this. The heat stays under these vehicles. And the manufacturer will not accept responsibility for this. *dt

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Questions about the 2017 Peterbilt 389

Is the 2017 Peterbilt 389 reliable?

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2017 Peterbilt 389, fewer than a typical 389 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Peterbilt 389?

Electrical system, with 1 complaint. Next is transmission (1).

How many recalls does the 2017 Peterbilt 389 have?

7 recalls, covering electronic stability control (esc), electrical system and engine and engine cooling.

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