NHTSA Complaint #10312068 — 2004 PETERBILT 379

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