Total Complaints
1 filings
PETERBILT 378 · model year
2004 PETERBILT 378
1 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004PETERBILT378 carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 378 is engine and engine cooling:cooling system with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 378. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
Recalls (3)
13V59300025/11/2013
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Paccar Incorporated (Paccar) is recalling certain 2004-2013 Peterbilt 379, 357, 378, 367, 388, 365, 389, 385 and 386 trucks manufactured from April 3, 2003, through October 25, 2013 and equipped with tri-drive rear axles and a tag or pusher axle. The affected vehicles may be missing required inform
05V57000022/12/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON CERTAIN TRACTORS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE MAY WEAR AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD IF NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY.
07V04400012/02/2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.
Recent Complaints
20100310ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) LOW ENGINE HEAT AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM OIL COOLER, STARTED ON COLD DAY BACK DECEMBER 14TH 2009, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. WANTED OIL COOLER RESEALED AND TWO THERMOSTATS REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS THIRD PARTY WARRANTY. DEALER ASKED PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN, WE DENIED ACTION, SAID TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO WARRANTY PROTOCOL. DEALER COMPLETELY DISMANTLES MOTOR INCORRECTLY CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. NOW DEALER IS HOLDING VEHICLE HOSTAGE SINCE WE WILL NOT SIGN RELEASE OF LAW SUIT FOR DAMAGE. DEALER NEVER TOLD US THEY WERE DOING THIS. AS AN ALTERER OF MANUFACTURED VEHICLES MY SELF, I DO REMEMBER THAT A REPAIR SHOP HAS NO AUTHORITY TO PLACE A VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE OR INOPERABLE CONDITION. AFTER THE FACT OF THIS, I HAVE SEEN VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, THAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY DONE OR EVEN HAVE AN ALTERERS DECAL SHOWING CHANGES TO SUSPENSION, DRILLING AND CUTTING O
Mileage: 633,000
Compare 2004PETERBILT378 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 PETERBILT 378 have?▼
The 2004 PETERBILT 378 has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 PETERBILT 378?▼
Yes, the 2004 PETERBILT 378 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 PETERBILT 378?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 PETERBILT 378 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2004 PETERBILT 378 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.