Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1989 Peterbilt 320, most frequently naming the transmission category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 5 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 1 month of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
3 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.govVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE PETERBILT 320 - WITH AN ALLISON 754 HT TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL) HAS TWO (2) SEPARATE DEADLY DEFECTS: ILLUSORY NEUTRAL DEFECT - SHIFT INDICATOR IN CAB READS NEUTRAL AND VIBRATION OF VEHICLE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO GEAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USUALLY USED AS REFUSE VEHICLES. THIS DEFECTS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN PTO IS ON, WHICH CAUSES HIGH RPMS. THE DRIVER THINKS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE CAB SHOWS NEUTRAL AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGED (THAT IS, THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN MOTIONLESS ON LEVEL GROUND). . INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION IS REALLY IS IN BETWEEN THE NEUTRAL AND DRIVE POSITIONS. THE VIBRATION FROM THE PTO CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO UNEXPECTEDLY DROP INTO DRIVE. THE ALLISON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO DRIVE (WITH HIGH RPMS) AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD VEHICLE. THUS, THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION TO A FATALITY, WE HAVE MANY DRIVERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DEFECT. THE ILLUSORY NEUTRAL DEFECT OCCURS AFTER SHIFT CABLE STRETCHES AND/OR BECOMES MAL-ADJUSTED. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Information Only: Proper instructions for closure of power distribution box cover to prevent corrosion.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Information: Bendix ACOM Software version 6.16.5.0 for diagnostics may introduce an unrecoverable error. Notice to dealers to replace this version with older software version until Bendix introduces new version.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Information - Recommended Practices for Updating ESA Software
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Fix-As-Fail: Repair for horizontal exhaust diffuser configurations with broken brackets or cracked diffuser.
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989Viewing | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.