2004 Peterbilt 379 recalls and problems

The 2004 Peterbilt 379 has 4 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

Pictured: a 2003 model; the 2004 may differ in details. Photo: 2003 Peterbilt 379 by 55BelAirGasser, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2004 compares

Lowest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Lowest complaint count among 7 379 model years — 7th most.

4recalls

1complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Equipment

Nov 25, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V593000 · 561 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: 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.

Remedy & notes

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.

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.

Service Brakes

Feb 12, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V044000 · 18 vehicles

Problem: On certain non-ABS equipped trucks, an air hose between the tractor protection valve and the back of the cab bulkhead was omitted.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

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.

Equipment

Jul 13, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V251000 · 40 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks, when using a cummins electronic icon service tool 2.2, an unintended engine start will occur.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, WHEN USING A CUMMINS ELECTRONIC ICON SERVICE TOOL 2.2, AN UNINTENDED ENGINE START WILL OCCUR.

Risk: Given the purpose and functionality of this service tool, this series of events would only occur in a service facility and could pose a hazard if the truck were to unexpectedly move or the engine to start without any warning, possibly causing personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

GIVEN THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS SERVICE TOOL, THIS SERIES OF EVENTS WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN A SERVICE FACILITY AND COULD POSE A HAZARD IF THE TRUCK WERE TO UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE OR THE ENGINE TO START WITHOUT ANY WARNING, POSSIBLY CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Cummins is conducting this recall (please see 06E063000) and will replace the icon service tool 2.2 with a new icon service tool 2.3 free of charge. Owners May contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or Peterbilt at 1-940-591-4201.

Peterbilt recall no. 706B. 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.

Engine

Dec 22, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V570000 · 30,995 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: The oil line May be cut on the cylinder head causing an oil leak and a possible fire.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

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.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

2004 vs. other Peterbilt 379 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Peterbilt 379 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Peterbilt 379, the latest from Nov 25, 2013 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Peterbilt 379?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.