Peterbilt 389 Reliability
34 NHTSA complaints (2008–2024). Complaint rate: 548.4 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2015 Peterbilt 389. The 2017 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: WHEELS.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Peterbilt 389 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| WHEELS | 4 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 | 0.0% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 | 33.3% |
| TIRES | 3 | 33.3% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 2 | 0.0% |
| ENGINE | 2 | 0.0% |
| STEERING | 2 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | — | 4 | 0 | — | View 2008View→ |
| 2015AVOID | — | 12 | 2 | — | View 2015View→ |
| 2017GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2017View→ |
| 2019 | — | 6 | 0 | — | View 2019View→ |
| 2022 | — | 5 | 0 | — | View 2022View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 2024View→ |
See also: Peterbilt 389accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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