NHTSA Recalls

2009 Peterbilt 386

3 open or recent recalls

3 open recalls

Open recalls

Units affected

Trucks in our DB

Carriers in DB

What this means

3 open or recent NHTSA recalls affect the 2009 Peterbilt 386. Recall repairs are free at OEM dealers — but only if you take the truck in. If you operate this model, verify recall service status by submitting the VIN at the OEM dealer or via NHTSA.gov. Insurance underwriters and freight brokers increasingly ask carriers to confirm recall service is current before contract loads.

All 3 recalls for this vehicle

NHTSA Campaign

15V740000

0 affected

Issue: PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Peterbilt 340, 2010, 2012, and 2015-2016 Peterbilt 337, 2010 Peterbilt 335, 2011-2016 Peterbilt 348, 2009 and 2011-2016 Peterbilt 365, 2009 and 2012-2013 Peterbilt 386, 2009-2015 Peterbilt 388, 2015-2016 Peterbilt 389, and 2015 Peterbilt 567 auto hauler vehicles. The affected t

Fix: Peterbilt will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine's vehicle speed parameters to limit the maximum vehicle speed to the tire speed rating, free of charge. The recall began on January 4, 2016. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. PACCAR's number for thi

NHTSA Campaign

09V258000

0 affected

Issue: PACCAR IS RECALLING 2,096 MY 2009 KENWORTH AND PETERBILT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRW STEERING SHAFTS. MISLOCATION OF A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD MAY ALLOW THE SPLINED TUBE AND NON-SPLINED TUBE TO ROTATE RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER DURING A LOW SPEED, HIGH TORQUE TURN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE TWO TUBES.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING SHAFT USING A WELD PLACEMENT GAUGE AND MISWELDED STEERING SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JULY 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440 AND PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

NHTSA Campaign

08V128000

0 affected

Issue: PACCAR IS RECALLING 1,043 MY 2008-2009 KENWORTH C500, T2000,T660, T800 AND W900 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX MV-3 DASH CONTROL VALVES. THE MOLDED VALVE BODY HAS AN INCORRECT CORE PIN IN THE INJECTION MOLD CAUSING THE VALVE BODY TO BE OVERSIZED IN THE DOUBLE CHECK VALVE AREA. THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE RUBBER DOUBLE CHECK VALVE TO BECOME LODGED I

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BENDIX MV-3 DASH CONTROL VALVES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-4196.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an open recall fail a DOT inspection on a 2009 Peterbilt 386?

An open recall does NOT automatically fail a Level 1, 2, or 3 DOT roadside inspection — those focus on brake, tire, light, HOS, and driver-fitness items. However, if the recall affects a safety-critical component that is showing visible defect (cracked brake line, leaking fuel line, etc.) and the inspector identifies the defect itself, it can result in an out-of-service violation. Best practice: complete recall service promptly to avoid the question entirely. Recall completion is free at the dealer.

How do I check if my specific VIN has open recalls?

Three ways: (1) Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls — free, instant. (2) Call any Peterbilt dealer and provide your VIN — they'll look up open campaigns. (3) Use our VIN decoder tool at /vin/ which cross-references against our recall database. The fastest is the NHTSA site; the most useful for fleet operators is the dealer call (they can also schedule the repair on the spot).

Who pays for recall repairs?

The manufacturer pays. Recall service is free at any authorized OEM dealer regardless of the truck's age, mileage, or who owns it now. The exception: if recall service is more than 10 years old, some manufacturers can decline (rare on commercial trucks). Peterbilt/386 recall service typically takes 1–4 hours of dealer shop time depending on the campaign — usually no charge for parts or labor.

What's the difference between a recall and a TSB on a Peterbilt?

A recall (NHTSA campaign) is a manufacturer-mandated safety repair — free and required. A TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) is the manufacturer telling dealers about a known issue and the recommended fix, but TSB repairs are typically NOT free — owners pay parts and labor. Recalls fix safety risks; TSBs fix quality/reliability issues that aren't safety-related. If you're seeing a problem that ISN'T on the recall list, search TSBs for Peterbilt 386 2009 — there may be a documented fix.

Can I keep operating a 2009 Peterbilt 386 with an open recall?

Legally yes (no federal law prohibits operating a vehicle with open recalls on a commercial truck — only some passenger-vehicle resale rules apply). Practically: depends on the specific recall. Safety-critical recalls (brakes, steering, fuel system) should be addressed immediately — both for safety and because insurance carriers and shippers increasingly track this. Less-critical recalls (lighting, infotainment) can wait until your next dealer visit. Always review the specific recall summary to understand severity.

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2009 Peterbilt 386

What this means

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