Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2008 340 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 0 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Peterbilt 340 failed the safety check 0.67% of the time — 73% less often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 109,155 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Peterbilt 340.
| 2020148 7 Apr 2020 | Lights And Instruments Issue: On certain trucks, the warning light for the tractor anti-lock brake system (ABS) may not turn on if the system loses power. If this happens, the drive… |
| 2008001 7 Jan 2008 | Brakes Certain vehicles fail to comply with requirements of CMVSS 121 - Air Brake System. The air lines were incorrectly constructed with only four layers of extruded… |
| 2007245 19 Jul 2007 | Other On certain trucks, the right side stabilizing rod which spans the cooling module and the right frame rail bracket was inadvertently designed too close in proxim… |
| 2006369 21 Dec 2006 | Suspension On certain trucks, components used to attach the air suspension to the axle may contain elevated amounts of copper. The elevated copper content could result in… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Peterbilt 330, 335, 337, 340, 348, 365, 367, 384, 386, 387, 388, 389, 567, 579 and 587 vehicles and 2008-2020 Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles equipped with NAMUX Software. In the event that the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) loses battery and/or ignition power to the controller, the dash warning light for the ABS may not illuminate to warn the driver of the loss of ABS. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems," and 136, "Electronic Stability Control System on Heavy Vehicles."
PACCAR IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 KENWORTH T300, T270, AND T370, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 T800 AND PETERBILT MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 335, 340, AND 367 VEHICLES BUILT ON CUMMINS' DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLES MAY BE DESIGNED WITH A HARD WIRED, DASH-MOUNTED SWITCH THAT ENABLES THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO INHIBIT AFTERTREATMENT DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER REGENERATION IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES IT MAY BE UNSAFE FOR ELEVATED EXHAUST TEMPERATURES. DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE LOGIC IN THE ECM SOFTWARE IN THESE ENGINES, THE SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LEADING THE OPERATOR TO BELIEVE THAT THE SWITCH IS IN "INHIBIT" MODE WHEN IT IS NOT.
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH EATON SYNFLEX ECLIPSE BRAND EXTRUDED NYLON AIR BRAKE HOSE TUBING FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THE TUBING WAS MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY FOUR LAYERS OF NYLON MATERIAL, INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED FIVE LAYERS.
ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY VEHICLES, THE RIGHT SIDE STABILIZING ROD, WHICH SPANS THE COOLING MODULE AND THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL BRACKET, WAS INADVERTENTLY DESIGNED TOO CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO THE ALTERNATOR POSITIVE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL POST. IN THE EVENT THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT ON THE TERMINAL POST WAS REMOVED OR CRACKED AND THE ENGINE MOUNTS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO ROCK, ELECTRICAL ARCING COULD OCCUR BETWEEN THE RADIATOR TIE ROD HARDWARE ON THE FRAME SIDE AND THE ALTERNATOR TERMINAL POST WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES. THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE MAY LEAK CAUSING A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE DASH VALVE BUTTON.
ON SOME PETERBILT TRUCKS, CERTAIN PARTS USED IN THE AIR SUSPENSIONS HAVE A HIGH COPPER CONTENT CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Peterbilt told its dealers about the 2008 Peterbilt 340: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10188550 | Information Only Windshield washer pumps have a high No Trouble Found rate. Washer pumps may fail to spray due to a clogged filter. |
| 10177021 | 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. |
| 10177019 | Fix as Fail: For all conventional models, except 387/587, equipped with Side-of-Cab (SOC) exhaust and built from 03/6/2006 to 1/20/2020, the clamps that secure the SOC exhaust stacks may not be tightened properly. This may allow the exhaust stack to rotate and contact the cab or sleeper. |
| 10176033 | Information only: Hendrickson Softek front axle maintenance intervals and requirements. |
| 10174764 | Safety Recall Bulletin: Updated with permanent repair path for phase 1 vehicles. The Tractor ABS Lamp May Not Illuminate When ABS Controller Loses Battery and/or Ignition Power. NHTSA recall number is 18V368. Non compliance to FMVSS and CMVSS 121 and 136. Resolution is to Reflash software. |
| 10174762 | Safety Recall Interim Bulletin: The Tractor ABS Lamp May Not Illuminate When ABS Controller Loses Battery and/or Ignition Power. NHTSA recall number is 20V199 Non compliance to FMVSS and CMVSS 121 and 136. Resolution is to Reflash software. |
| 10173212 | Information Only Vehicles may have the connector seals on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to water intrusion and corrosion in some vehicles. |
| 10173205 | Information Only: Proper jump-starting voltage will eliminate high voltage related issues and equipment damage. |
| 10172036 | Information Only: Vehicles may have the connector seal on the wheel speed sensor incorrectly installed, which may lead to sensor corrosion. |
| 10168703 | Information Only: This bulletin provides guidance for repairing an air-conditioning system after internal failure of the A/C compressor. |
| 10162392 | Information Only - Quick Reference Guide for Electric harness damage repairs. |
| 10159674 | Information Only: Proper instructions for closure of power distribution box cover to prevent corrosion. |
| 10154733 | Information: Bendix ACOM Software version 6.16.5.0 for diagnostics may introduce an unrecoverable error. Notice to dealers to replace this version with older software version until Bendix introduces new version. |
| 10143649 | Information - Recommended Practices for Updating ESA Software |
| 10082382 | E-ONE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED WITH ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION (E.G. FUSES), TO PROVIDE OVERCURRENT PROTECTION DURING SHORT-CIRCUIT CONDITIONS OR MALFUNCTION OF COMPONENTS. FUSES ARE SOMETIMES SHARED AMONGST DIFFERENT CIRCUITS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CIRCUITS FOR THE PUMP PRIMER MOTOR AND CHASSIS POWER SHARE A COMMON 300AMP FUSE. IF EITHER OF THESE CIRCUITS EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD, THE FUSE WILL ACT AS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE USERS AND THE VEHICLE FROM FURTHER DAMAGE. AS SUCH, AN OVERCURRENT CONDITION IN THE PUMP PRIMER CIRCUIT WILL ALSO DISCONNECT MAIN POWER FROM THE CAB AND CHASSIS AND |
| 10027645 | PETERBILT TRUCKS: THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY SHUT DOWN DUE TO A POWER SURGE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE COMFORTCLASS CONTROL PANEL TURNS TO RED. *PE |
| 10026729 | PETERBILT TRUCKS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CERTAIN PETERBILT TRUCKS MANUFACTURED WITH UNDER TORQUED BRAKE ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BOLTS ON HENDRICKSON 8,000 LB PUSHER AXLES. CSC LETTER WAS RECEIVED. *PE |
| 10026567 | PETERBILT: TRUCKS BUILT WITH CUMMINS ISL ENGINES BETWEEN 1/16/08-6/10/08. DUE TO A MATERIAL ERROR, CERTAIN VEHICLES ORDERED WITH OPTIONAL C-BRAKE BY CUMMINS (OPTION CODE NUMBER 2812140) DID NOT RECEIVE A C-BRAKE ON THE ENGINE. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Horton Fan Hub Failures
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation