RoadVitals

1987 International Harvester 3800

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest May 14, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Nov 12, 1996
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1987 International Harvester 3800, most frequently naming the brakes category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
96V192000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

Nov 12, 1996
171,638 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE BUSES HAVE A TURN SIGNAL LEVER THAT WILL NOT OPERATE CONSISTENTLY IN THE LANE CHANGE MODE IF THE LEVER IS NOT MOVED TO THE POSITION WHERE RESISTANCE TO MOVEMENT IS FELT.
The risk: SHOULD THE REAR SIGNAL LAMPS NOT FLASH WHEN A LANE CHANGE WAS BEING MADE, IT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FOLLOWING THE BUS TO COLLIDE WITH THE BUS INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
The remedy: OPERATORS WILL BE MAILED INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPER METHOD OF USING TURN SIGNALS. A DECAL WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO BE PLACED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OF EACH BUS.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEView on NHTSA.gov
92V102000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jul 20, 1992
185,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED THE CRASH BARRIER TEST.
The risk: THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED, RESULTING IN FLUID LOSSGREATER THAN ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". FUEL SPILLS INA COLLISION COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: MODIFY THE FUEL TANK CAGE TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301.
NAVISTAR INTL CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed May 14, 2004

I PURCHASED LESSONS AND A SCHEDULED ROAD TEST FOR THE TRACTOR TRAILER LICENSE FROM THIS COMPANY. THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE I WAS ASSIGNED TO (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE ONLY 18-WHEEL VEHICLE THEY OFFERED), WAS IN EXTREMELY POOR AND WOULD DEFINITELY NOT PASS THE PRE-TRIP INSPECTION REQUIRED BY LAW TO EVEN TAKE THE TRUCK ON THE ON THE ROAD(LOW AIR WARNING SIGNAL, CRACKED WINSHIELD, ETC.) TWO WEEKS AFTER MY SECOND LESSON, I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE INSTRUCTOR AGAIN - BUT WAS TREATED IN AN EXTREMELY HOSTILE AND UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER - AT WHICH TIME HE LEFT THE TRUCK AND UNMANNED AND DECIDED TO LEAVE. I THEN WENT TO THE OFFICE TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPEND - MAINLY TO THE MANAGER. HOWEVER, THE MANAGER WAS NOT PRESENT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS REOCCURING ISSUE WITH OTHER STUDENTS BY SOMEONE WHO WORKED THERE. THEY MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK, THE STUDENTS WERE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TAKE THE ROAD TEST BY THE NY STATE INSTRUCTOR. THE CONDITION OF TRUCK WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. BESIDES THIS BEING MY MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS COMPANY, I WAS ALSO FORCED TO BEGIN LESSONS ON UNTIMELY SCHEDULE - 45 MINS TO AN HOUR. I WAS SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM AND MANNER OF THIS COMPANY, I ASKED FOR MY MONEY ($545) BACK. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY WOULD "FIX" THE TRUCK AND TRY TO RESCHEDULE MY LESSONS TO A LATER DATE. HOWEVER, MY ROAD TEST IS A WEEK AWAY AND THEY'RE CLAIMING TO HAVE NO OPEN APPOINTMENTS. THE LAW STATES THAT YOU CANNOT TAKE OUT A VEHICLE WITH AIRBRAKES IF THE LOW AIR WARNING SIGNAL IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072592
Incident
May 12, 2004

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

International Harvester 3800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001021—
2000931—
1999921—
1998411—
1997331—
1996230—
1995840—
1994340—
1993140—
1992050—
1991150—
1989030—
1988020—
1987Viewing120—
1986020—
1985020—
1984020—
1983020—
1982030—
1981020—
1980010—
1979010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.