RoadVitals

2003 Peterbilt 330

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.
0
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.
3
Latest Oct 20, 2003
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.
0
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 2003 Peterbilt 330. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 9 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

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.gov

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

Oct 20, 2003
1,187 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA SPICER INTEGRAL KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES, THE STEER AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A LONGITUDINAL CRACK IN THE STEER ARM.
The risk: IF THE CRACK SHOULD PROPAGATE OVER TIME, THE BALL COULD BECOME LOOSE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE KNUCKLE AND STEER ARM ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 1003G/03KWAView on NHTSA.gov

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Aug 22, 2003
1,858 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 OR 3126E 2002 ENGINES AND HORTON FAN HUBS, THE FAN HUB MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FAIL RESULTING IN THE HUB AND FAN ASSEMBLY SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE. THIS LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD CAUSES UNWANTED VIBRATION IN THE ASSEMBLY THAT LEADS TO BOLT FAILURE.
The risk: IF THE BOLTS FAIL, THE COMPLETE HUB AND FAN ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE RESULTING IN EQUIPMENT DAMAGE AND/OR PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A RIGID SPACER ACROSS THE TWO LOWER MOUNTING HOLES OF THE FAN HUB TO MAINTAIN THE CLAMPING FORCE AND REPLACE ALL THE BOLTS AND WASHERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 803-EView on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

Aug 6, 2003
132 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE LOCKING TAB THAT LOCKS THE OUTER SPINDLE NUT ONTO THE SPINDLE WAS NOT ENGAGED OR PROPERLY BENT OVER.
The risk: FAILURE TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE LOCKING FEATURE INTO THE NUT COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO LOOSEN WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE WHEEL BEARING TO OVER HEAT AND FAIL IF UNDETECTED. IF THE LOOSE NUT IS NOT DETECTED, THE OUTER END (TIRE, WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY) COULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HUBS TO DETERMINE IF THE LOCKING TABS ARE PROPERLY BENT. IF THE LOCKING TABS ARE NOT BENT, THEN DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS FOR PREMATURE WEAR AND REPLACE SUCH COMPONENTS AS REQUIRED AND PROPERLY SECURE THE RETAINING NUT BY BENDING OVER THE LOCKING TAB. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.
PACCAR INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 03KW8/803-DView on NHTSA.gov

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.

02-160

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Information Only – Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.

32-015

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.

11-001

POWER TRAIN

Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.

32-016

EQUIPMENT

Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.

01-075

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.

34-066

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs.

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 330 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023010
2022010
2021000
2020110
2019022
2018022
2017032
2016021
2015021
2014031
2013021
2012031
2011031
2010021
2009040
2008031
2007011
2005000
2004120
2003Viewing030
2002020
2001040
2000060
1999160
1998010
1997010
1996010

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.