2012 Peterbilt 386 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Tires (1)
Safety recalls (7)
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 2020-04-06 ยท campaign 20V199000 ยท 460,515 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail
Risk: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will update the NAMUX software within the cab control module, free of charge. PACCAR issued owners an interim notification on June 4, 2020. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20pbc AND 20KWB.
Tires 2015-11-09 ยท campaign 15V740000 ยท 1,876 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Peterbilt 340, 2010, 2012, and 2015-2016 Peterbilt 337, 2010 Peterbilt 335, 2011-2016 Peterbilt 348, 2009 and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 365, 2009 and 2012-2013 Peterbilt 386, 2009-2015 Peterbilt 388, 2015-2016 Peterbilt 389, and 2015 Peterbilt 567 auto hauler vehicles. The affected trucks are equipped with Michelin 295/60R22.5 XZA-2 front tires that have a speed rating less than the vehicle is governed to.
Risk: Higher vehicle speeds and other factors such as tire load and road temperatures may result in premature tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine's vehicle speed parameters to limit the maximum vehicle speed to the tire speed rating, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for this recall is 1115P.
Electrical System:alternator/Generator/Regulator 2015-07-22 ยท campaign 15V456000 ยท 288 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Peterbilt 365, 367, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured January 13, 2011, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with extended-body Leece Neville alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
Risk: If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line and install a plastic insulator on the cable end, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2015. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 715-K.
Electrical System:alternator/Generator/Regulator 2015-05-08 ยท campaign 15V270000 ยท 1,494 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Kenworth T660, T680, T880 trucks manufactured February 18, 2013, to April 10, 2015, and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks manufactured December 13, 2010, to April 20, 2015. The affected trucks, equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines and Delco-Remy 40SI alternators, have alternator charge cables that may chafe against a formed metal freon discharge line.
Risk: If the alternator cable rubs through its insulation, an electrical short may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the alternator charge cable away from the metal freon line, free of charge. PACCAR issued an interim notification to owners on July 10, 2015. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 15KWE and 515-F.
Equipment:other:labels 2013-11-25 ยท campaign 13V593000 ยท 561 vehicles
Defect: Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain 2004-2013 Peterbilt 379, 357, 378, 367, 388, 365, 389, 385 and 386 trucks manufactured from April 3, 2003, through October 25, 2013 and equipped with tri-drive rear axles and a tag or pusher axle. The affected vehicles may be missing required information from the certification label, specifically the tag or pusher axle the gross axle weight rating, suitable tire and rim information, and recommended tire pressure information. Without this infor
Risk: As a result, the axles may be overloaded or the wrong tires could be installed or the tires could be improperly inflated. All of these issues increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Peterbilt will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the certification labels missing the necessary information. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers can contact Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 1113-F.
Service Brakes, Air:supply:check Valve 2012-01-30 ยท campaign 12V026000 ยท 15,932 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012-2013 KENWORTH T170, T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T700, T800, W900, AND PETERBILT 320, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, AND 587 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 31, 2011, THROUGH JANUARY 19, 2012, AND EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX ATR-6 ANTILOCK TRACTION RELAY VALVES. IN EXTREMELY COLD CONDITIONS, THESE BENDIX RELAY VALVES MAY POTENTIALLY DEVELOP INTERNAL LEAKAGE. INTERNAL LEAKAGE CAN LEAD TO AIR PRESSURE BEING DELIVERED TO AFFECTED PRIMAR
Risk: UNEXPECTED CONTINUOUS BRAKE APPLICATION CAN CAUSE THE BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND LEAD TO A FIRE. UNEXPECTED CONTINUOUS BRAKE APPLICATION CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ALSO, THE BRAKES MAY BE APPLIED WITHOUT ILLUMINATING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, FAILING TO GIVE PROPER WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS.
Fix: PACCAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND PROVIDE A TEMPORARY REPAIR UNTIL BENDIX DEVELOPS A PERMANENT REMEDY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 10, 2012. OWNER MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.
Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly 2011-02-23 ยท campaign 11V127000 ยท 4,664 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2012 KENWORTH T2000, T660, T700, T800, AND W900, AS WELL AS MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 PETERBILT 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, AND 587 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH PACCAR MX ENGINES. THE OIL MODULE CENTRIFUGAL SPINNER FILTER CAP IN THE PACCAR MX ENGINE MAY BECOME LOOSE, POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE CAP TO COME OFF AND ENGINE OIL TO PARTIALLY DISCHARGE FROM THE OIL MODULE ONTO EXHAUST COMPONENTS.
Risk: THE DISCHARGE OF ENGINE OIL ONTO EXHAUST COMPONENTS WHICH ARE HOT, SUCH AS WHEN THE ENGINE IS UNDER SIGNIFICANT LOAD, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RE-TORQUE THE OIL MODULE FILTER CAP AND INSTALL A SECONDARY RETENTION DEVICE ON THE SECONDARY CENTRIFUGAL SPINNER FILTER CAP. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.
Service bulletins (20)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free โ but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-11 ยท P001 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"kenworth: dealers should check the chassis list and sir weekly for vin changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. peterbilt: dealers should check the chassis list and sir weekly for vin changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer 2021-02-10 ยท 02-160 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
information only รขยย windshield washer pumps have a high no trouble found rate. washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.
Structure 2020-08-25 ยท 02-158 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
fix as fail: peterbilt has determined that certain model 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, 567, 579, and 587 trucks, built between 4/13/2010 and 3/16/2020 and equipped with a flush mounted battery box, utilized rubber washers that could rub through and cause the aluminum box mounting tabs to
Structure 2020-06-10 ยท 43-067 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
fix as fail: for all conventional models, except 387/587, equipped with side-of-cab (รขยยsocรขยย) exhaust and built from 03/6/2006 to 1/20/2020, the clamps that secure the soc exhaust stacks may not be tightened properly. this may allow the exhaust stack to rotate and contact the cab or sleeper.
Electrical System 2020-06-08 ยท 32-015 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Power Train 2020-05-29 ยท 11-001 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
information only: hendrickson softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.
Showing the 6 most recent of 20 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-08-26 ยท Tires ยท 800 miโthe contact owns a 2012 peterbilt 386 equipped with kelly tires, tire line: armor steel rsa2, tire size: 295/75/r22.5, dot number: 04n37xetw. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the tread separated from the front driver's side tire core. the contact stated that the tire was a replacement tire. the dealer was not made aware of โฆโ
2023-08-09 ยท Unknown Or Otherโi [xxx] , [xxx] i purchase three (3) trucks from ritchie brother auction in georgia on 3/23/2023 (1) 2012 freightliner truck was locate in georgia, and two trucks was locate in chehalis wa (1) 2012 peterbilt (1) 2016 freightliner. the 2012 peterbilt was a problem from the start (see attach repairs) the truck was towed to peterbilt in salem or, theโฆโ
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.