The Peterbilt 325 spans 1997–2026 with 10 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Peterbilt 325 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1997 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Peterbilt 325 VIN — every digit explained
Every Peterbilt 325 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Peterbilt and the country it was built in (real Peterbilt codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 325.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA1XP
- Canada2XP
- Mexico3WP
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your 325, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Peterbilt 325 have?
The Peterbilt 325 has 10 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1997–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2023 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Steering
What's wrong. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Kenworth T170, T270, T280, T370, T380, T440, T470, T480, T680, T800, T880, W900, W990, C500, and 2022-2023 Peterbilt 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 536, 537, 548, 567, and 579 vehicles. The steering gears may have been assembled incorrectly, which can cause the gears to fracture.
Risk. A fractured steering gear can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering gear serial numbers, and replace the steering gears as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. 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 22PBE and 22KWE.
2022 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Steering
What's wrong. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Kenworth T170, T270, T280, T370, T380, T440, T470, T480, T680, T800, T880, W900, W990, C500, and 2022-2023 Peterbilt 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 389, 520, 536, 537, 548, 567, and 579 vehicles. The steering gears may have been assembled incorrectly, which can cause the gears to fracture.
Risk. A fractured steering gear can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the steering gear serial numbers, and replace the steering gears as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. 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 22PBE and 22KWE.
2017 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
What's wrong. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2017 Peterbilt 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 386, 389, and 587 vehicles manufactured April 20, 2016, to June 13, 2016. The brake lights may not illuminate when the brakes are applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk. If the brake lights do not illuminate when the brakes are applied, other drivers will be unaware the vehicle is stopping, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any brake light switches with date code 08-01760, free of charge. The recall began on January 26, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Paccar's number for this recall is 816-F.
2016 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
What's wrong. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain 2016 Peterbilt 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 389, 389G, 567, 579 and 587 trucks and Kenworth K170, T170, T270, T370, T440, T470,T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 trucks equipped with certain Spicer D or E series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.
Risk. If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2017. Owners may contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000 or Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000. PACCAR's number for this recall is P817-C.
2015 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Fuel System, Diesel
What's wrong. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2015 Kenworth K270, T270, K370, T370, T440, T470, and W900 chassis manufactured May 13, 2014, to July 23, 2014, and certain model year 2015 Peterbilt 210, 220, 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 382, 384, and 567 chassis manufactured May 8, 2014, to July 22, 2014. The Cummins ISB or ISL engines in these vehicles may have been equipped with Fleetguard UFF-XT fuel filters, part number FF63009, whose filter shell may separate from the fuel filter nut plate causing the engine to stall without warning.
Risk. If the engine stalls unexpectedly there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix. Cummins will notify owners on behalf of PACCAR, and Cummins dealers will replace the fuel filter with a non-defective one, free of charge. The notification schedule for this recall ran July 29 to December 31, 2014. Owners may contact Kenworth customer service at 1-425-828-5000, or Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4000. Owners may also contact Cummins customer service at 1-812-377-3713. Kenworth's number for this recall is 14KWJ. Peterbilt's number for this recall is 814-H.
2014 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Seat Belts
What's wrong. PACCAR Incorporated (PACCAR) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kenworth T660, T680, T700,T800, T880, W900, T440, T470, T370, T270, T170, C500, and C550 chassis manufactured between August 7, 2013, and October 31, 2013, and Peterbilt 320, 325, 330, 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 384, 386, 388, 389, and 587 chassis manufactured between August 7, 2013, and November 3, 2013, and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk. If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Fix. PACCAR will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2014. Owners may contact PACCAR at 1-425-468-7400. Kenworth's number for this campaign is 14KWC. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 114-B.
2011 Peterbilt 325 recalls 2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:abs Warning Light
What's wrong. Peterbilt is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 model 325, 330, 335, 337, 340, and 348 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 121, "air brake systems." the abs malfunction indicator lamp may be illuminated at all times.
Risk. This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix. Dealers will re-pin the hydraulic brake harness insuring a normally closed diagnostic switch is installed. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on june 16, 2010. Owners may contact peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
What's wrong. Peterbilt is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 model 325, 330, 335, 337, 340, and 348 trucks. The hood anti-blowdown device is designed to prevent unintended and unexpected hood closure. The device within can become hindered or inoperative due to unintentional latch movement which interferes with the hood pivot j-hook, latch misalignment, or latch fallout.
Risk. An unintended latch closure can cause personal injury.
Fix. Dealers will install hood anti-blowdown retention cables to the radiator and hood assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on june 21, 2010. Owners may contact perterbilt at 940-591-4196.
2010 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
What's wrong. Peterbilt is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 model 325, 330, 335, 337, 340, and 348 trucks. The hood anti-blowdown device is designed to prevent unintended and unexpected hood closure. The device within can become hindered or inoperative due to unintentional latch movement which interferes with the hood pivot j-hook, latch misalignment, or latch fallout.
Risk. An unintended latch closure can cause personal injury.
Fix. Dealers will install hood anti-blowdown retention cables to the radiator and hood assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on june 21, 2010. Owners may contact perterbilt at 940-591-4196.
2008 Peterbilt 325 recalls 1
Service Brakes, Air:supply:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. The diameter of the hose affects the fittings which may allow air to leak from the brakes and create the potential for a vehicle crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect the air brake hoses and, if necessary, replace the hoses. The recall began on february 22, 2008. Owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners may contact kenworth at 1-425-828-5440 or peterbilt at 1-940-591-4196.
Best and worst years for the Peterbilt 325
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Peterbilt 325 — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Peterbilt 325 problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Peterbilt 325 — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Peterbilt 325 specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Peterbilt 325. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Peterbilt 325 window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Peterbilt 325 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 325 holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Peterbilt 325 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Peterbilt 325 get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Peterbilt 325 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Peterbilt 325 cost to own?
A Peterbilt 325 holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Check what a used 325 is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 325 loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 325 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Peterbilt 325 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 325 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Peterbilt 325 last?
A well-maintained Peterbilt 325 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Peterbilt 325’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this 325’s VIN free →All Peterbilt 325 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Peterbilt 325 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2022 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2021 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2019 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2018 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2017 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2016 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2015 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2014 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2013 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2012 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 325 | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2010 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2009 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2008 325 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2007 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2006 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2005 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2004 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2003 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2002 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2001 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 2000 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 1999 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 1998 325 | 0 | — | — |
| 1997 325 | 0 | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 325?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Peterbilt 325.
How many recalls does the 325 have?
10 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1997–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a 325 last?
A well-maintained 325 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 325 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 325 is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Peterbilt 325 warranty?
New Peterbilt models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Peterbilt dealer.
Where is the Peterbilt 325 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 325's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Peterbilt may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the 325 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.