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1989 Peterbilt 320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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19870
19881
19890
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19910
1992
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2001
Power TrainCrash

THE PETERBILT 320 - WITH AN ALLISON 754 HT TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL) HAS TWO (2) SEPARATE DEADLY DEFECTS: ILLUSORY NEUTRAL DEFECT - SHIFT INDICATOR IN CAB READS NEUTRAL AND VIBRATION OF VEHICLE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO GEAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USUALLY USED AS REFUSE VEHICLES. THIS DEFECTS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN …

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THE PETERBILT 320 - WITH AN ALLISON 754 HT TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL) HAS TWO (2) SEPARATE DEADLY DEFECTS: ILLUSORY NEUTRAL DEFECT - SHIFT INDICATOR IN CAB READS NEUTRAL AND VIBRATION OF VEHICLE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO GEAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USUALLY USED AS REFUSE VEHICLES. THIS DEFECTS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN PTO IS ON, WHICH CAUSES HIGH RPMS. THE DRIVER THINKS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE CAB SHOWS NEUTRAL AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGED (THAT IS, THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN MOTIONLESS ON LEVEL GROUND). . INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION IS REALLY IS IN BETWEEN THE NEUTRAL AND DRIVE POSITIONS. THE VIBRATION FROM THE PTO CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO UNEXPECTEDLY DROP INTO DRIVE. THE ALLISON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPS INTO DRIVE (WITH HIGH RPMS) AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD VEHICLE. THUS, THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION TO A FATALITY, WE HAVE MANY DRIVERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DEFECT. THE ILLUSORY NEUTRAL DEFECT OCCURS AFTER SHIFT CABLE STRETCHES AND/OR BECOMES MAL-ADJUSTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746615

Official recalls

3

89V135000 · Vehicle Speed Control:springs

Aug 10, 1989

THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE THROTTLE LEVER TO NOT BE UNDERSUFFICIENT TENSION TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 124.

Remedy: CORRECTLY LOCATE THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS.

89V136000 · Vehicle Speed Control:springs

Aug 10, 1989

THROTTLE RETURN SPRING MAY BE INCORRECTLY LOCATED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE THROTTLE LEVER TO NOT BE UNDERSUFFICIENT TENSION TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 124.

Remedy: CORRECTLY LOCATE THROTTLE RETURN SPRINGS.

89V058000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Apr 7, 1989

STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE VALUE AND COULD LOOSEN AND INTERFERE WITH THE PITMAN ARM ON STEERING GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS INTERFERENCE COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: RETIGHTEN OR REPLACE MOUNTING BOLTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.