RoadVitals

2014 Peterbilt 388 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
17
Latest Oct 2, 2019
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.
7
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 17, 2013

What this page shows

Our database holds 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Peterbilt 388. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–17 of 17

EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 2, 2019

PROBLEMS WITH (AFTER TREATMENT)CODES FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE, IMMEDIATELY WENT TO STOP ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AND TRUCK SHUT OFF AT 70MPH. FORTUNATELY NOT ON INCLINE OR DECLINE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SAFETY. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. PETERBILT NOR CUMMINS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE FUEL PUMP COMPLETELY FAILED AND TOOK OUT THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FLAW AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE OLDER TRUCKS THAT STILL HAVE LOW MILES BUT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. WE ARE PERSONALLY AWARE OF 5 ENGINE FAILURES IN THE SAME TIME FRAME OF OURS..ALL CUMMINS ISX15 MOTORS. THESE ENGINES ARE LEMONS. THE AFTER TREATMENT ENGINEERING IS A SHAM AND THE MOTORS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE STRAIN. THESE ARE PUTTING OWNER OPERATORS OUT OF BUSINESS AND ARE AN ENORMOUS SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IS THE NHTSA PREPARED TO DO ABOUT THIS AS THE RECALL DUE TO THESE FUEL PUMPS SHOULD HAVE SPANNED MANY MORE YEARS AND THOUSANDS MORE VEHICLES. OUR ISSUE STARTED IN 2016 NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASE THROUGH PETERBILT AND CULMINATED WITH FUEL PUMP FAILURE/CARBON PACKING THIS PAST WEEK. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS WIRING HARNESS AND CUMMINS WAS TO COVER THE COST AS NO ONE SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. WE HAVE GONE FROM BEING TOLD IT WOULD BE A 3800.00 HARNESS TO BEING TOLD THAT THE TRUCK NEEDS A NEW MOTOR AND FUEL/OIL PUMP USING THE SAME FLAWED AFTER TREATMENT (THIS WERE THE CODES THAT HAD BEEN APPEARING THAT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED, NEVER WARNING FOR FUEL PUMP, PRESSURE ISSUES, ETC.) FOR AN ADTL COST OF $39,000 IN ADDITION TO THE SERVICE WORK ALREADY PERFORMED TO NO AVAIL. OWNER OPERATORS CANNOT STAY IN BUSINESS AS MANUFACTURERS BASK IN THE GLORY OF SALES AND MAINTENANCE PROFITS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 12 YEARS AND NOW WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND JUST HOPE WE CAN SELL THIS LEMON. ACT NOW.

NHTSA ID
11265786
Incident
Sep 25, 2019
Mileage
390,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 18, 2014

6 PETERBILT MY COMPANY OPERATES ARE 2014 AND 2015 CAR HAULERS. ALL ARE CONSISTENTLY DESTROYING REAR AXEL TIRES BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER (THREAD IS COMING OUT). DAMAGED SEEMS TO HAPPEN DUE TO OVERHEAT OF TIRES. WE TRIED USING DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES, BUT BLOW OUT DID NOT STOP. WE TOOK TRUCKS TO [XXX] AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THREAD FROM DRIVE TIRE IS COMING OFF AND TIRE STILL HOLDS AIR. IT DAMAGES ALL LIGHTS ON TRUCK THEN IT DAMAGES MUD GUARDS AND BREAKS SAFETY WINGS ON THE TRAILER. EACH TIME COSTS ABOUT 2000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. ONLY SOLUTION WE FOUND AT THIS TIME TO RUN ALL POSITION TIRES ON DRIVE TIRES. SO FAR WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES FOR PAST 30 DAYS. LAST TRUCK WE PURCHASED FROM [XXX] , THEY AGREED TO SWAP TIRES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO ALL POSITION... NO SOLUTION IS OFFERED TO US. WE HAVE LOST OVER $40,000 SO FAR ON BRAND NEW TRUCKS... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10658772
Incident
Oct 2, 2014
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 18, 2014

6 PETERBILT MY COMPANY OPERATES ARE 2014 AND 2015 CAR HAULERS. ALL ARE CONSISTENTLY DESTROYING REAR AXEL TIRES BOTH SIDES DRIVER AND PASSENGER (THREAD IS COMING OUT). DAMAGED SEEMS TO HAPPEN DUE TO OVERHEAT OF TIRES. WE TRIED USING DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES, BUT BLOW OUT DID NOT STOP. WE TOOK TRUCKS TO [XXX] AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES. WITH EACH OCCURRENCE THREAD FROM DRIVE TIRE IS COMING OFF AND TIRE STILL HOLDS AIR. IT DAMAGES ALL LIGHTS ON TRUCK THEN IT DAMAGES MUD GUARDS AND BREAKS SAFETY WINGS ON THE TRAILER. EACH TIME COSTS ABOUT 2000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. ONLY SOLUTION WE FOUND AT THIS TIME TO RUN ALL POSITION TIRES ON DRIVE TIRES. SO FAR WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES FOR PAST 30 DAYS. LAST TRUCK WE PURCHASED FROM [XXX], THEY AGREED TO SWAP TIRES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO ALL POSITION... NO SOLUTION IS OFFERED TO US. WE HAVE LOST OVER $40,000 SO FAR ON BRAND NEW TRUCKS... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10658769
Incident
Jul 16, 2014
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Nov 18, 2014

WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658768
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 18, 2014

WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658767
Incident
Aug 12, 2014
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Nov 18, 2014

WE OPERATE 6 BRAND NEW PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULERS. EVERY TRUCK RANDOMLY BLOWS DRIVE INSIDE TIRE. ONCE TIRE BLOWS IT CAN BLOW ADJACENT TIRE. SO FAR WE HAD ABOUT 20 BLOW OUT IN 2 MONTH TIME. ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR WE FOUND WAS TO REROUTE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE SIDE AND REPLACE TIRES TO ALL POSITION TIRES. NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM PETERBILT. CALLED EVERY POSSIBLE NUMBER, BUT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND EXHAUST CAUSES INSIDE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BLOW OUT. TIRES BLOW EVERY 1000-3000 MILES. WE HAVE SPEND OVER 30,000$ ON ROAD CALLS AND TIRE REPLACEMENT SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658766
Incident
Aug 5, 2014
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Nov 18, 2014

2014 PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULER TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED 25 AT WORK ZONE. PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. ONLY WHEEL TIRE AND COUPLE WIRES DESTROYED THIS TIME. COST MY COMPANY $1000 TOWING, NEW WHEEL $350, NEW TIRES $800... AND COUPLE THOUSAND MORE ON OTHER ITEMS. TRUCK WAS ABOUT 76000 POUNDS. FRONT AXEL WAS 11800. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658763
Incident
Oct 5, 2014
Mileage
165,000 mi
Body & structureEngineTires & wheels
Filed Nov 18, 2014
Crash reported

2014 PETERBILT 388 CAR HAULER. PASSENGER SIDE 2014 MICHELIN XZA 275/70/R22.5 BLEW UP. TRUCK LOST POWER HOOD WAS RIPPED APART. WHEEL, DOOR, HOOD, ELECTRICAL, AIR INTAKE DESTROYED. WAITING FOR INSURANCE TO COVER ANY DAMAGE. SO FAR HAVE SPEND OVER 20,000$ PLUS ROAD SERVICE. TRUCK WAS TRAVELING 73 MPH FRONT WEIGHT 11200. TIRE HAD AROUND 18000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658761
Incident
Oct 10, 2014
Mileage
115,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Nov 4, 2014

FRONT MICHELIN XZA 2 TIRE BLEW. IT WAS REPLACED 7/15/2014 AT 130,673. TIRE HAD LESS THEN 35,000 ON IT. TRUCK WAS DAMAGED WHEEL DESTROYED. HOOD DAMAGED, BUMPER DAMAGED. ROAD SERVICE REPLACED 1 TIRE AND WHEEL PAID $1500 TIRE SIZE 275/70/22.5 *TR

NHTSA ID
10652387
Incident
Sep 20, 2014
Mileage
162,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 PETERBILT 388 TRACTOR, EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN XZ4 TIRES, SIZE 275/70/22 1/2 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE LOT. THE TIRE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE TRACTOR FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID
10652379
Incident
Oct 22, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 19, 2014

DRIVER WAS TRAVELING DOWN RT 95 SOUTH IN NORTH CALOLINA AROUND MILE MARKER 45 WHEN THE TIRE JUST BLOW OUT. WHEN THEY BLOW OUT IT CAUSES A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE TRUCKS HOOD AND FINDER. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS A NEW TRUCK THAT CAME WITH THESE TIRES ON IT. MICHELIN XZA2 295/60/22.5. *TR

NHTSA ID
10648659
Incident
Oct 13, 2014
Mileage
53,890 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2014
Crash reported

MULTIPLE TIRE FAILURES ON 2014 PETERBILT TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626628
Incident
Aug 13, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2014
Crash reported

STEER TIRE FAILURES ON MULTIPLE 2014 PETERBILT TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626623
Incident
Jul 29, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2014
Crash reported

STEER TIRE FAILURES ON MULTIPLE 2013 AND 2014 PETERBILT 388 TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626610
Incident
Aug 11, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2014
Crash reported

STEER TIRE FAILURES ON MULTIPLE 2013 AND 2014 PETERBILT 388 TRUCKS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626604
Incident
Aug 7, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2014
Crash reported

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL STEER TIRE FAILURES ON 2013 AND 2014 PETERBILT TRUCKS. WE RUN EITHER A 295 70 22.5 MICHELIN OR A 275 70 22.5 MICHELIN. THE TRUCKS ARE USUALLY AT CLOSE TO 80,000 LBS WHEN THESE FAILURES OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626593
Incident
Jul 8, 2014
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 17, 2013
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 PETERBILT 388 TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN XZA 2 ENERGY TIRES, SIZE 295-60-22.5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 66 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,200. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 8/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN 1 YEAR, ON BOTH THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES ARE NOT LASTING DUE TO THE HEAT. THE FRONT BUMPER AND LEFT HEADLIGHT OF THE VOLVO WAS FOUND DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE LEFT FENDER. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO IMPACT OR ROAD HAZARD. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE TIRE WAS IMPROPERLY INFLATED. THERE WERE NO FAILURES FOUND WITH THE VALVE STEM. UPDATED 09/4/2013*JS

NHTSA ID
10525399
Incident
Jul 13, 2013
Mileage
33,200 mi

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.

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