AI Damage2021 Peterbilt 348: common problems
The maker issued 25 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 25
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Comparison
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- "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…
- The verbiage in the Introduction section has been updated
- Safety Recall Updated software and procedures are now available
Certain Vehicle Model Year 2021-2025 Peterbilt chassis configured for trailer towing require a software update for the Bendix EC80 ABS ECU. Software update procedures for certain Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEV) and…
- Info Only Unnecessary starter replacements can result from customer complaints regarding engine starting…
Info Only Unnecessary starter replacements can result from customer complaints regarding engine starting issues. A new Starter Troubleshooting Guide has been created to provide a comprehensive list of starting system…
- Fix As Fail The height control valve (HCV) rod on vehicles with low air leaf suspensions is prone to…
Fix As Fail The height control valve (HCV) rod on vehicles with low air leaf suspensions is prone to toggling over center during rough road conditions. With full suspension articulation, HCV bracket flexes and toggles…
- Peterbilt has determined that certain model year 2021, pre-production chassis are eligible to have…
Peterbilt has determined that certain model year 2021, pre-production chassis are eligible to have specific parts updated to production level.
- Info Only - PACCAR is introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates for engine MY17 and newer chassis…
Info Only - PACCAR is introducing Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates for engine MY17 and newer chassis equipped with Cummins X15, X12, ISX12, ISX12N, L9N, PX-7, and PX-9 engines The technology will leverage the…
- Fix-As-Fail On certain chassis with Low Air Leaf Suspension or Low-Low Air Leaf Suspension, the Height…
Fix-As-Fail On certain chassis with Low Air Leaf Suspension or Low-Low Air Leaf Suspension, the Height Control Valve (HCV) arm may be rubbing on other components when the bend in the arm is facing outboard. Flipping…
- The service information for Bendix Air Dryer maintenance is being updated to include new procedures
- Info Only - Chassis equipped with a flush mounted battery box between the frame rails, and containing 3…
Info Only - Chassis equipped with a flush mounted battery box between the frame rails, and containing 3 batteries, may experience battery movement on the side where the single battery resides. This bulletin contains a…
- Fix-As-Fail â A hill start assist (HSA) valve plumbing revision eliminates ice buildup in the HSA valve…
Fix-As-Fail â A hill start assist (HSA) valve plumbing revision eliminates ice buildup in the HSA valve exhaust in cold weather.Â
- Due to major data carriers phasing out 3G networks, chassis currently utilizing first generation Peoplenet…
Due to major data carriers phasing out 3G networks, chassis currently utilizing first generation Peoplenet Mobile Gateway (PMG001) will experience severe 3G service degradation as early as January of 2022. Chassis…
NHTSA lists 25 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Peterbilt 348?
There are no owner complaints in the NHTSA data for this year; the data comes from 25 manufacturer service bulletins.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Peterbilt 348?
NHTSA lists 25 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Peterbilt 348 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.