Total Complaints
1 filings
PETERBILT 379 · model year
2004 PETERBILT 379
1 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004PETERBILT379 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 379 is engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel 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 4 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 379. 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:ENGINE:DIESEL | 1 |
Recalls (4)
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.
06V25100013/07/2006
EQUIPMENT
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, WHEN USING A CUMMINS ELECTRONIC ICON SERVICE TOOL 2.2, AN UNINTENDED ENGINE START WILL OCCUR.
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
20100217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE HORTON FAN HUB CAME OFF AND INTO THE RADIATOR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND I WAS IN THE SLEEPER CABIN. THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE NOISE WHEN THE HUB FAILED. SHE SAW A LOT OF STEAM OR SMOKE AND FIRST THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD AFFECTING HER VISABILITY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER WHICH AT THAT TIME WE WERE ABLE TO SEE ANITFREEZE AND PIECES OF FAN BLADES ON THE GROUND. WE SUSPECT THERE WERE ALSO DEBRIS LEFT ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED WITH 294,000. THE FIRST FAN HUB FAILURE OCCURRED WITH 380,000, THE 2ND WITH 649,800. WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM HORTON TELLING US WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT BUT WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM YET. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF UPDATED 12/23/10*JB
Mileage: 753,429
Compare 2004PETERBILT379 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 PETERBILT 379 have?▼
The 2004 PETERBILT 379 has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 PETERBILT 379?▼
Yes, the 2004 PETERBILT 379 has 4 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 379?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 PETERBILT 379 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 2004 PETERBILT 379 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.