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NHTSA Owner Complaints

2019 Peterbilt 389

3 owner-reported issues

Owner-reported data
Total complaints
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Open recalls
0
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What this means

Fewer than 5 NHTSA complaints filed on 2019 Peterbilt 389. Either the truck is too new for a meaningful sample, or owners aren't reporting issues to NHTSA. The dominant complaint patterns are: STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (33%), STEERING (33%), TIRES (33%). These three categories cover 100% of all reports — typical signal that there are 2-3 known systemic issues on this make/model/year, not random faults.

Top reported issues
  • #1STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
    1 (33%)
  • #2STEERING
    1 (33%)
  • #3TIRES
    1 (33%)
Recent complaint examples
STEERING0000-00-00

- The steering arm on the driver side of the Dana D-Series axle that was installed from the Peterbilt factory on a new 2019 Peterbilt 389 that was purchased new by Acord Transportation, Inc. is what failed. The steering arm on the D-Series axle bolts to the steering knuckle with …

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER0000-00-00

WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK MARCH 4, 2018. SINCE THAT DATE A TOTAL OF THREE (3) PASSENGER QUARTER FENDERS HAVE "FALLEN OFF" THE TRUCK. THE LAST SET HAD LOCK TIGHT ON THE BOLT. IT IS ONLY INVOLVING THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNSURE IF THE BOLT BROKE OR JUST BACKED OUT. THE LAST ONE WHEN I…

TIRES0000-00-00

I PURCHASED A 2019 PETERBILT TRUCK IN MAY OF 2018. THE FRONT LEFT STEER TIRE FAILED ON JUNE 18,2018 AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS, AND HAVING TO TAKE EMERGENCY EVASIVE ACTION. THE TIRE HAD ONLY 10,580 MILES. I CHOCKED IT UP TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A ROAD HAZARD, AND LE…

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these Peterbilt 389 2019 complaints verified by NHTSA?
NHTSA collects complaints from owners but does NOT verify each one. The complaints below are unfiltered owner reports — useful for spotting patterns, but a single complaint doesn't prove a defect. Pay attention to: (1) volume of complaints on the same component, (2) consistency of described symptoms, and (3) whether NHTSA has opened a formal investigation or issued a recall on the same component. If a component appears in 5+% of complaints, that's usually a real pattern worth taking seriously.
Should I avoid buying a 2019 Peterbilt 389 based on these complaints?
It depends on the components reported. 3 complaints across roughly tens of thousands of trucks of this model year is a light signal. Compare against other model years of the same truck — if 2022 has 3x more complaints than 2020 or 2024, that specific year has issues. Also check whether the most-reported component is something you can preventively address (e.g., DEF system issues can be mitigated with quality fluid + dealer software updates).
Have any of these complaints led to recalls on the 2019 Peterbilt 389?
Not currently. Owner complaints don't automatically trigger recalls — NHTSA reviews complaint patterns and opens investigations when warranted. Recalls usually happen when a complaint pattern correlates with documented field failures or safety incidents. Even without recalls, repeated complaints on the same component is signal worth noting in your purchase decision.
How do I file my own complaint about a Peterbilt truck?
Visit NHTSA.gov/file-complaint. You'll need: your VIN, the date of incident, description of what happened, and component affected (drivetrain, brakes, etc.). Filing takes ~10 minutes and adds your data point to the public record. This is the input that triggers NHTSA investigations. For commercial trucks, fleet operators reporting issues at scale (10+ similar reports) often accelerate NHTSA's review timeline.
What's the most expensive complaint pattern on the 2019 Peterbilt 389?
Based on the complaint data: the top reported issue is 'STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER' with 1 reports. Depending on the specific failure mode, this can range from a few hundred dollars (sensor replacement) to several thousand (transmission rebuild, DPF replacement, engine work). The complaint pattern alone won't tell you cost — check the symptoms described for hints about the actual root cause. Most commercial-truck complaints describe symptoms ($1,500–$5,000 repair range is typical), not catastrophic failures.

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