RECALLS — MAKE · MODEL · YEAR
2021 Peterbilt 389 recalls
10 safety recall campaigns have been filed for the 2021 Peterbilt 389 with Transport Canada and the U.S. NHTSA. Here is what both agencies say.
- Canadian recalls
- 04
- U.S. recalls
- 06
- Total campaigns
- 10
Transport Canada recalls
04- Brakes#2021521
38 units affected
Issue: On certain trucks, the Hill Start Assist valve assembly could be damaged by contact with the rear axle. If this happens, there could be reduced braking or a loss of rear brakes. Safety Risk: Reduced braking or a loss of rear brakes can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to inspect the clearance between the Hill Start Assist valve assembly and the rear axle. The dealer will rework the assembly if more clearance is needed.
- Lights And Instruments#2021287
9,308 units affected
Issue: On certain trucks, the driver may be able to turn off the daytime running lamps (DRLs) while driving. Canadian regulations require that DRLs must stay on while driving, unless the headlamps or fog lamps are switched on. Safety Risk: Driving without daytime running lights could make the vehicle less visible to others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to update the vehicle software.
- Powertrain#2021069
47 units affected
Issue: On certain vehicles, the cap screws that attach the flywheel to the crankshaft may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the flywheel could detach. If this happens, there could be a loss of power to the wheels and parts could be ejected from the engine compartment. Safety Risk: A loss of power to the wheels could increase the risk of a crash. Parts that are ejected from the engine compartment could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Cummins will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a Cummins authorized service center to tighten the flywheel cap screws. Cummins will repair damaged components, as necessary.
- Suspension#2020399
502 units affected
Issue: On certain trucks, the lift axle pivot bolts may be too short and may not be properly tightened. As a result, the bolts could come loose or break. If this happens, parts could fall from the truck. Note: This recall only affects trucks built with Watson Chalin SL2065 lift axles. Safety Risk: Large fasteners that fall on the road could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: PACCAR will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to inspect and replace the lift axle pivot bolts, as necessary.
Canadian data updated August 24, 2026
U.S. NHTSA recalls
06- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE#24V915000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth vehicles, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop functioning.
Risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may not function properly or at all, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24KWL and 24PBL.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT#24V190000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Peterbilt 365, 367, 389, 535, 536, 537, 548, 567, 579, and 2021-2025 Kenworth T180, T280, T380, T480, T680, T880 and W990 trucks. The right-hand gear shifter stalk connectors may have been improperly crimped, resulting in a loss of communication.
Risk: A loss of communication between the gear shifter and the transmission may result in the vehicle becoming disabled after coming to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the gear shifter assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 15, 2025, then phased after that. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 24PBE and 24KWE.
- SERVICE BRAKES, AIR#21V906000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Kenworth T880, W990, Peterbilt 567, 579, 389, and 2022 Peterbilt 536, 537 wrecker and auto hauler vehicles. The work brake (winch brake) may unintentionally disengage the service brakes during winching operations, causing the vehicle to roll.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth); or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWG and 21PBM.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS#21V648000
PACCAR, Inc. (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Peterbilt 367, 389, 567, and 579 vehicles. The cross member mounted Hill Start Assist valve assembly may have insufficient clearance to the rear axle, causing damage to the rear brake hose and loss of the rear brake signal.
Risk: If loss of the rear brake signal occurs, the vehicle could experience reduced rear braking capability or loss of brakes to the rear axle(s), increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for clearance and re-work the assembly to conform with an updated design, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 24, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 11, 2022. Owners may contact PACCAR's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's number for this recall is 21PBJ.
- ENGINE#21V080000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Kenworth T680, T880, W990, T800, W900 and Peterbilt 579, 567, 389, 367 vehicles equipped with a Cummins X15 engine. The capscrews that attach the flywheel to the crankshaft may have been improperly torqued, allowing the flywheel to detach.
Risk: A detached flywheel can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, driveline pieces may be ejected from the engine compartment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will properly torque the capscrews and the engine will also be inspected for damage and, if necessary, repaired, free of charge. The recall began on March 29, 2021. Owners may contact PACCAR customer service at 1-425-828-5888 (Kenworth) or 1-940-591-4220 (Peterbilt). PACCAR's numbers for this recall are 21KWA and 21PBB.
- POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY#20V506000
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Peterbilt 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 567 and Kenworth T800, T880, W900, W990 vehicles equipped with Watson and Chalin steerable lift axle suspension systems (model SL2065). The axles may have lower rear pivot bolts that are not long enough to sufficiently engage the locking feature of the corresponding nuts.
Risk: The short screws can cause the hardware to separate from the suspension system and become road hazards, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury.
Remedy: PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect suspect chassis and replace the pivot bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2020. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5888 and Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220. PACCAR's numbers for this recall is 20PBE and 20KWC.
Does this recall apply to my vehicle?
Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.
What to do
Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, or to book the work, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:
- NHTSA recall lookup (search by VIN) — U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Defects and recalls database — Transport Canada
Check a 2021 Peterbilt 389 VIN
A VIN decode confirms your vehicle's exact model year, trim and assembly plant, then runs this same recall check against it.