NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Peterbilt 378 Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Peterbilt 378 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Peterbilt dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Peterbilt 378. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2004 Peterbilt 378 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2004 Peterbilt 378, describing incidents dated December 14, 2009.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10318340 · Filed March 10, 2010
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…

Read the full complaint

Certification Label Missing Information

NHTSA #13V593000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported November 25, 2013 · PACCAR Incorporated

Potentially affected: 561 vehicles

Repair completion: 18.18% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 1113-F · Owners notified February 10, 2014 · Vehicles built April 3, 2003 – October 25, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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 information from the certification label, specifically the tag or pusher axle the gross axle weight rating, suitable tire and rim information, and recommended tire pressure information. Without this information, the vehicles do not comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification."

Safety consequence

As a result, the axles may be overloaded or the wrong tires could be installed or the tires could be improperly inflated. All of these issues increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Peterbilt will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the certification labels missing the necessary information. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Customers can contact Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4000. Peterbilt's number for this campaign is 1113-F.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #07V044000 · Service Brakes, Air · NHTSA notice

Reported February 12, 2007 · PACCAR INCORPORATED

Potentially affected: 18 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 107B · Owners notified February 22, 2007 · Vehicles built December 17, 2003 – October 2, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN NON-ABS EQUIPPED TRUCKS, AN AIR HOSE BETWEEN THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE AND THE BACK OF THE CAB BULKHEAD WAS OMITTED.

Safety consequence

THE ABSENCE OF THIS AIR HOSE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE PERFORMANCE WHILE A TRAILER IS BEING PULLED, RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

PETERBILT WILL INSPECT THE AIR HOSE PLUMBING OF THE DRIVE AXLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PETERBILT AT 1-940-591-4196.

Notes

PETERBILT RECALL NO. 107B.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

VARIABLE VALVE ACTUATION OIL LINE/OIL LEAK

NHTSA #05V570000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported December 22, 2005 · PACCAR INCORPORATED

Potentially affected: 30,995 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 05KW7 & 1205E · Owners notified April 17, 2006 · Vehicles built April 18, 2003 – September 9, 2005 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE OIL LINE MAY BE CUT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING AN OIL LEAK AND A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

CATERPILLAR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PACCAR, WILL BE CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CALL CATERPILLAR AT 309-675-6496, KENWORTH AT 425-828-5440, OR PETERBILT AT 940-591-4201.

Notes

KENWORTH RECALL NO. 05KW7 AND PETERBILT RECALL NO. 1205E.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236(TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Peterbilt 378. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Peterbilt 378.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10318340

Incident: December 14, 2009 · Filed: March 10, 2010

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 OF FRAMES AND SO ON. I AM WRITING YOU ON THIS FOR A POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION OF THE DEALER. I HAVE ALSO SINCE FOUND THIS IS A NORMAL PRACTICE WITH THIS DEALER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BBB AND THEY HAVE AN F RATING FOR THIS COMPANY ON COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER NEVER RESPONDS. I DO HAVE AN ATTORNEY INVOLVED, AND WOULD ALSO LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I FEEL THIS COMPANY COULD BE PLACING PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY FOR FAULTY REPAIRS, AND MODIFICATIONS. [XXX] *TR

Other Peterbilt 378 model years

Check your 2004 Peterbilt 378 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Peterbilt 378 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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