2000 Peterbilt 387: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2000-01-19 (January 19, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THERE IS AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence: THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED, RESULTING IN GREATER BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT AND/OR DELAYED BRAKE RELEASE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE PEDAL BRACKET.

Reported: 2000-06-07 (June 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE STEER AXLE MUDFLAPS AND/OR MUDFLAP STIFFENERS CAN RUB A HOLE IN THE FORWARD SURFACE OF THE UNDERCAB FUEL TANK, CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT MUDFLAP ASSEMBLIES SMALLER THAN THE ORIGINAL ASSEMBLIES TO OWNERS AND THE FUEL TANK WILL BE CHECKED FOR ABRASION AND REPLACED IF DAMAGED.

Reported: 2000-07-06 (July 6, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THE SIDE FAIRING HINGE BAR AND MOUNTS CAN DETACH FROM THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE HINGE BAR CAN ROTATE AND SEPARATE FROM THE FAIRING, ALLOWING THE HINGE BAR ASSEMBLY TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A ROAD HAZARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL NUT PLATE AND IF THE BRACKET IS CRACKED, THE FUEL TANK STRAP WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW STRAP AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2001-04-13 (April 13, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH PETERBILT'S SMARTGAGE SYSTEM CONTAINING A REDUCED FUNCTION INTERFACE MODULE (RFIM). THIS MODULE RECEIVES DATA FROM VARIOUS COMPONENTS/SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLE THEN SENDS THE INFORMATION TO A MICROPROCESSOR. A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE RFIM'S CAN ALLOW WATER TO PENETRATE INTO THE PRESSURE BLOCK PORTION OF THE MODULE, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE PRESSURE TRANSDUCER CONNECTOR.

Consequence: THIS RESULTS IN AN ERRONEOUS AIR PRESSURE READING ON THE GAUGE IN THE DASH.

Remedy: THE RFIM DATE CODE WILL BE INSPECTED AND ALL RFIM'S BUILT PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 9, 2000 WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4000.

Reported: 2001-08-28 (August 28, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN MERITOR AXLES. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.

Consequence: THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4000 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5000.

Reported: 2002-07-15 (July 15, 2002)

HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRW TIE ROD ENDS ON CERTAIN ARVINMERITOR AND DANA AXLES. PETERBILT WILL RECALL 1,434 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 1999, TO MAY 14, 2000, AND FROM JULY 22 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. KENWORTH WILL RECALL 859 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 1999, TO MAY 23, 2000, AND FROM JULY 27, 2000, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND KENNWORTH WILL RECALL AN ADDITIONAL 4,151 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DANA AXLES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23 TO DECEMBER 6, 1999, AND FROM MAY 23 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2000. THE TIE ROD AND DRAG LINK BALL STUD ENDS CONTAIN BEARINGS THAT ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS.

Consequence: THIS CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR WITH POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TIE RODS AND DRAG LINKS WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNED ENDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

Reported: 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TRUCK HUB UNITS MANUFACTURED BY SKF EXCLUSIVELY FOR USE ON ARVINMERITOR'S FF98X SERIES NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE HUB UNIT BEARINGS CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.

Consequence: SEIZURE OF THE BEARINGS CAN CAUSE WHEEL SEPARATION OR WHEEL END FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FRONT AXLE HUBS. NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 2003. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ADVISED US THAT PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITH A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201 OR KENWORTH 425-828-5440.