Peterbilt 387 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 11 owner complaints and 34 safety recalls on file for the Peterbilt 387, across 19 model years (1998–2016). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (4). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Peterbilt 387 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 387 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 387: 4 complaints, 14 recalls
- 2009 387: 2 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2005 387: 2 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Peterbilt 387 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Peterbilt 387 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 387 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2015 387 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2014 387 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2013 387 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2012 387 | 0 | 3 | — | — | |
| 2011 387 | 0 | 6 | — | — | |
| 2010 387 | 0 | 6 | — | — | |
| 2009 387 | 2 | 9 | — | Engine | |
| 2008 387 | 4 | 14 | — | Engine | |
| 2007 387 | 0 | 6 | — | — | |
| 2006 387 | 0 | 4 | — | — | |
| 2005 387 | 2 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2004 387 | 1 | 3 | — | Latches/locks/linkages | |
| 2003 387 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2002 387 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2001 387 | 2 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Air | |
| 2000 387 | 0 | 7 | — | — | |
| 1999 387 | 0 | 7 | — | — | |
| 1998 387 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Peterbilt: all Peterbilt models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Peterbilt 387 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2008 (4), 2009 (2), 2005 (2). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Peterbilt 387?
Engine, with 3 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Peterbilt 387 have?
34 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.