2008 Peterbilt 340: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)

ON SOME PETERBILT TRUCKS, CERTAIN PARTS USED IN THE AIR SUSPENSIONS HAVE A HIGH COPPER CONTENT CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.

Consequence: FAILURE COULD CAUSE ERRATIC VEHICLE HANDLING WHICH CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, WHEN NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2007-06-27 (June 27, 2007)

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES. THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE MAY LEAK CAUSING A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE DASH VALVE BUTTON.

Consequence: THIS COULD DELAY OR FAILURE IN APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKES POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE ROLL AWAY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CHECK VALVE REPAIR KIT FOR THE AFFECTED SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Reported: 2007-07-19 (July 19, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY VEHICLES, THE RIGHT SIDE STABILIZING ROD, WHICH SPANS THE COOLING MODULE AND THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL BRACKET, WAS INADVERTENTLY DESIGNED TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO THE ALTERNATOR POSITIVE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL POST. IN THE EVENT THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT ON THE TERMINAL POST WAS REMOVED OR CRACKED AND THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO ROCK, ELECTRICAL ARCING COULD OCCUR BETWEEN THE RADIATOR TIE ROD HARDWARE ON THE FRAME SIDE AND THE ALTERNATOR TERMINAL POST WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

Consequence: THE ELECTRICAL ARCING COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT RADIATOR TIE ROD AND CORRESPONDING MOUNTING BRACKET WITH A LONGER RADIATOR TIE AND DIFFERENT MOUNTING BRACKET WHICH WILL ADEQUATELY SPACE APART THE TIE ROD MOUNTING HARDWARE AND MOUNTING BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Reported: 2008-01-08 (January 8, 2008)

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON SYNFLEX ECLIPSE BRAND EXTRUDED NYLON AIR BRAKE HOSE TUBING FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THE TUBING WAS MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY FOUR LAYERS OF NYLON MATERIAL, INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED FIVE LAYERS.

Consequence: THE DIAMETER OF THE HOSE AFFECTS THE FITTINGS WHICH MAY ALLOW AIR TO LEAK FROM THE BRAKES AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BRAKE HOSES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2008. OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 OR PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Reported: 2009-09-03 (September 3, 2009)

PACCAR IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 KENWORTH T300, T270, AND T370, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 T800 AND PETERBILT MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 335, 340, AND 367 VEHICLES BUILT ON CUMMINS' DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLES MAY BE DESIGNED WITH A HARD WIRED, DASH-MOUNTED SWITCH THAT ENABLES THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO INHIBIT AFTERTREATMENT DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER REGENERATION IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES IT MAY BE UNSAFE FOR ELEVATED EXHAUST TEMPERATURES. DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE LOGIC IN THE ECM SOFTWARE IN THESE ENGINES, THE SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LEADING THE OPERATOR TO BELIEVE THAT THE SWITCH IS IN "INHIBIT" MODE WHEN IT IS NOT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL PERMIT HOT EXHAUST GASES TO EXIT THE VEHICLE TAILPIPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF MELTING OR BURNING OF NEARBY SURFACES, OR A FIRE.

Remedy: PACCAR IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE PLEASE SEE 09E-046. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS (1-800-343-7357).

Reported: 2020-04-06 (April 6, 2020)

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 to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."

Consequence: If the driver unknowingly operates the vehicle without the ABS functioning, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.