2020 Peterbilt 365 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:urea Injection System (Def) (1)
Safety recalls (4)
Steering:critical Fasteners 2022-04-25 · campaign 22V277000 · 17,641 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T880, T800, W900, W990; and 2018-2020 Peterbilt 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567, and 579 vehicles. The Dana D-Series axle steer arm fasteners that attach the steering arm to the steering knuckle may fail.
Risk: Fastener failure can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace and torque the steer arm fasteners, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 22 PBB and 22 KWB.
Fuel System, Diesel:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail 2021-05-26 · campaign 21V391000 · 612 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 520, 567, Kenworth T270, T370, T440, T470, T800 and T880 vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWC and 21PBD.
Power Train:axle Assembly 2020-08-26 · campaign 20V506000 · 1,097 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Peterbilt 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567 and Kenworth T800, T880, W900, W990 vehicles equipped with Watson and Chalin steerable lift axle suspension systems (model SL2065). The axles may have lower rear pivot bolts that are not long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts.
Risk: The short screws can cause the hardware to separate from the suspension system and become road hazards, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect suspect chassis and replace the pivot bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 20PBE and 20KWC.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2020-03-04 · campaign 20V130000 · 35,671 vehicles
Defect: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Peterbilt 365, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles equipped with a left-hand under hood jumper terminal (option code 2539410). The positive battery jumper terminal cable may be too long, allowing it to chafe against the left front suspension spring and result in an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery jumper terminal cables, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 30, 2020. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's number for this recall is 20PBA.
Service bulletins (49)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-11 · P001 · 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 2026-08-13 · 43-088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the procedure has been updated to include additional steps for verifying the software level on the vehicle electronic control unit (vecu2) and digital display (dd). steps have also been added to the paccar common rail injection 2 (pci2) software verification.
Engine 2026-07-25 · E311 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
105 chassis have been removed from the chassis list and unflagged in prws due to expiration of applicable warranty coverage. total chassis population is 732.
Engine 2026-07-21 · 43-088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this optional software update is now available for chassis equipped with emy 2021b-2023 paccar mx-11 and mx-13 engines. this update provides customers with additional time to service their trucks before a def-related derate occurs. the software is being offered to customers in alignment with recentl
Engine 2026-07-10 · E311 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition, chassis affected, service action, warranty, and procedure sections have been updated to include the latest prognostics bulletin verbiage.
Engine 2026-07-07 · 43-088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"the software is not yet available. the bulletin will be updated when more information is available."
Showing the 6 most recent of 49 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-06-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:urea Injection System (Def)“the engine aftertreatment def fluid sensor in the def tank fails - setting a stop engine error code that shuts the truck down, resulting in an inoperatable vehicle on the road. only way to move the truck is with a wrecker. danger to driver and surrounding vehicles. part has a known defect and is in allotment mode through dealers. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.