Peterbilt 320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
36 distinct recall campaigns
19,852 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 50.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 25.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2001: 1; 2012: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 746615 · 2001-06-09 (June 9, 2001)
THE PETERBILT 320 - WITH AN ALLISON 754 HT TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL) HAS TWO (2) SEPARATE DEADLY DEFECTS: ILLUSORY NEUTRAL DEFECT - SHIFT INDICATOR IN CAB READS NEUTRAL AND VIBRATION OF VEHICLE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO GEAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USUALLY USED AS REFUSE VEHICLES. THIS DEFECTS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN PTO IS ON, WHICH CAUSES HIGH RPMS. THE DRIVER THINKS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE CAB SHOWS NEUTRAL AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGED (THAT IS, THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN MOTIONLES…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 746615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478963 · 2012-09-12 (September 12, 2012)
THE 2010 PETERBILT 320 GARBAGE TRUCK WAS RETURNING FROM THE WASTE DISPOSAL SITE. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BROKE OFF THE MOUNTING BRACKETS THAT SECURES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE PETAL FELL OVER SIDEWAYS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY FOR THE TRUCK. THE TWO VERY SMALL BRACKETS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH HAS A ROD IN THE BOTTOM THE GOES THROUGH THE PEDAL AND INTO EACH BRACKET WHICH PETERBILT CALLS A BEARING. THE BRACKETS (BEARINGS) BOTH DETERIORATED AS THEY ARE MADE OF A VERY LIGHT POT…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,703 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478963 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2008: 8; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 6; 2015: 9; 2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| 1990 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| 1991 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 6 | +5 |
| 2000 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 2 | -4 |
| 2002 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2007 | 0 | 3 | +2 |
| 2008 | 0 | 8 | +5 |
| 2009 | 0 | 4 | -4 |
| 2010 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 3 | -1 |
| 2012 | 1 | 5 | +2 |
| 2013 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 6 | +1 |
| 2015 | 0 | 9 | +3 |
| 2016 | 0 | 5 | -4 |
| 2017 | 0 | 6 | +1 |
| 2018 | 0 | 4 | -2 |
| 2019 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 |