The Used Car Index

2004 Peterbilt 385 problems

No complaints are listed for the 2004 Peterbilt 385. NHTSA's API and bulk file list none in this build.

Data build 2026-10-07.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as PETERBILT 385.

At a glance

Complaints
0
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
30,995
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
13

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Model-generated complaint tags: No complaints are listed for tagging.

Recalls

2 recalls.

13V593000

Date: 2013-11-25. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain 2004-2013 Peterbilt 379, 357, 378, 367, 388, 365, 389, 385 and 386 trucks manufactured from April 3, 2003, through October 25, 2013 and equipped with tri-drive rear axles and a tag or pusher axle. The affected vehicles may be missing required information from the certification label, specifically the tag or pusher axle the gross axle weight ratin (excerpt)

Consequence: As a result, the axles may be overloaded or the wrong tires could be installed or the tires could be improperly inflated. All of these issues increase the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: Peterbilt will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the certification labels missing the necessary information. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers can contact Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 1113-F. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V570000

Date: 2005-12-22. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: ON CERTAIN TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.

Consequence: THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PACCAR, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440, OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

13 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
EQUIPMENT3
POWER TRAIN2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY1
VISIBILITY1

11037541

Date: 2026-09-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

"Kenworth: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 2 chassis added to the chassis list. Peterbilt: Dealers should check the chassis list and SIR weekly for VIN changes. 10 chassis added to the chassis list."

11009719

Date: 2024-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

1210F - SPL 170XL Interaxle Driveline Warranty section has been updated with descriptions of Recommended Repairs and an updated PRWS Claim Coding table has been added.

10188550

Date: 2021-02-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, VISIBILITY.

Information Only A?A A Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter.

10177021

Date: 2020-06-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Information Only: This bulletin provides dealers with a battery warranty quick reference guide to ensure the appropriate tests for battery warranty are performed in order to prevent battery warranty claims filed with incorrect or incomplete information.

10176033

Date: 2020-05-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements.

10173205

Date: 2020-03-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage.

10173212

Date: 2020-03-03. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Information Only A?A A Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to water intrusion and corrosion in some vehicles.

10172036

Date: 2020-02-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Information Only: Vehicles may have the connector seal on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to sensor corrosion.

10168703

Date: 2019-11-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor.

10162392

Date: 2019-06-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.
  • NHTSA's complaints API and bulk file list no complaint for this make, model and model year in this data build.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
3850

Same model, other years

All model years | All Peterbilt models

Other Peterbilt models, 2004

Sources

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