RoadVitals

2018 Peterbilt 220

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jun 24, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Peterbilt 220. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 25 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Jun 24, 2021
89 units potentially affected
The defect: Mickey Truck Bodies, Inc. (Mickey Truck) is recalling certain 2017 Freightliner M2, M2-106, International 4300, and 2018 Peterbilt 220 vehicles equipped with certain model lift gates that contain a license plate kit with part number 298872-01. The light kit does not properly illuminate the license plate, shining rearward, instead of downward as intended.
The risk: The improper lighting may confuse other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will provide a replacement license plate kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 10, 2021. Owners may contact Mickey Truck customer service at 1-336-888-2291.
Mickey Truck Bodies, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Sep 6, 2017
2,975 units potentially affected
The defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Peterbilt 210 and 220 trucks; 2012-2018 Peterbilt 210 and 220 trucks; and 2010-2018 Kenworth K270 and K370 trucks. These LFNA trucks have a front axle sway bar link that may come loose on the frame rail end and fall into the path of the drag link, possibly binding the steering system.
The risk: If the sway bar link detaches and falls into the drag link, it may impact the ability of the vehicle to steer properly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the upper sway bar link attachment for a hardened washer installed between the bushing and the nut, installing a washer if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on October 2730, 2017. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 817-D and 17KWE.
PACCAR IncorporatedManufacturer number 817-D and 17KWEView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE20015ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Quarter Fender Failures

Opened Sep 21, 2020
Closed Oct 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 NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

32-025

ENGINE

Info Only Unnecessary starter replacements can result from customer complaints regarding engine starting issues. A new Starter Troubleshooting Guide has been created to provide a comprehensive list of starting system checks, which should reduce unnecessary starter replacements and associated warranty claims. Engine starting system warranty claims now require a completed Starter Checklist, a Battery Pack Midtronics Report, and a Cable Drop Midtronics Report. Claims filed without these documents may be denied.

51-016

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Information Only Dealers/body builders installing lift gates onto Peterbilt Model 220EV BEV chassis must use 24-volt lift gate systems 12-volt lift gate systems are not compatible with vehicle electrical systems. Installation of a 12V lift gate on the 24V system could result in the following: * Accelerated wear on the 12V batteries. * Excessive current load on 12V system wiring. * Lights may dim when lift gate is in operation. * Lift gate may operate more slowly..

45-064

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Info Only - PACCAR is introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates for engine MY17 and newer chassis equipped with Cummins X15, X12, ISX12, ISX12N, L9N, PX-7, and PX-9 engines The technology will leverage the existing Remote Diagnostic cs hardware to deliver secure software updates remotely. This will reduce downtime and save on maintenance costs for eligible vehicles.

13-060

SERVICE BRAKES

The service information for Bendix Air Dryer maintenance is being updated to include new procedures.

51-013

EQUIPMENT

Due to major data carriers phasing out 3G networks, chassis currently utilizing first generation Peoplenet Mobile Gateway (PMG001) will experience severe 3G service degradation as early as January of 2022. Chassis currently utilizing 3G antennas as a primary antenna may experience this degradation.

43-071

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Fix-As-Fail – Due to undersupply issues, only a limited supply of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensors are available. As a temporary solution, after PACCAR confirms a DEF sensor is not available, a temporary software update will allow a vehicle to continue operation with a failed DEF sensor by disabling the DEF sensor diagnostics.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Peterbilt 220 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010
2025020
2024010
2023030
2022010
2021020
2020010
2018Viewing021
2017011
2016030
2015060

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.