2016 Peterbilt 348 problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (4)
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.
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly 2017-09-22 ยท campaign 17V593000 ยท 17,737 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016 Peterbilt 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 389, 389G, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and Kenworth K170, T170, T270, T370, T440, T470,T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks equipped with certain Spicer D or E series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.
Risk: If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000 or Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is P817-C.
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:ignition:module 2015-09-24 ยท campaign 15V597000 ยท 354 vehicles
Defect: Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 12, 2015, and 2016 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured August 4, 2015, to August 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
Risk: An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective engine control modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 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 15KWM (Kenworth) and 915-L (Peterbilt).
Service bulletins (34)
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."
Engine 2024-11-22 ยท 32-025 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 warran
Suspension 2022-09-09 ยท 14-043 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
fix-as-fail on certain chassis with low air leaf suspension or low-low air leaf suspension, the height control valve (hcv) arm may be rubbing on other components when the bend in the arm is facing outboard. flipping the bend in the hcv arm inboard prevents the rub.
Service Brakes 2022-08-03 ยท 13-060 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the service information for bendix air dryer maintenance is being updated to include new procedures.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2021-12-16 ยท 44-036 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
information only: รฃยขรขยรขยan improved procedure has been developed for servicing the fuel filter on model 348 chassis equipped with a px-9 and 11 5/8รฃยขรขยรขย frame rails.
Fuel System, Diesel 2021-09-21 ยท 43-071 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
fix-as-fail รขยย 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 disab
Showing the 6 most recent of 34 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.