RoadVitals

1994 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.
3
Latest Sep 29, 1999
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.
4
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 International Harvester 3800, most frequently naming the engine, exterior lighting and transmission categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

  • Engine133.3%
  • Exterior lighting133.3%
  • Transmission133.3%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
96V174000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Sep 13, 1996
580 units potentially affected
The defect: THE WIRING FROM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS CONNECTED TO THE WRONG WHEEL SENSOR OR TO THE WRONG BRAKE MODULATOR VALVE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EITHER OR BOTH WIRING MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT EITHER THE FRONT OR REAR AXLE OR BOTH AXLES.
The risk: SHOULD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WIRING BE CROSSED, IT WOULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE. A SIGNAL WOULD BE SENT TO THE WRONG BRAKE CHAMBER WHEN A BRAKE IMBALANCE IS DETECTED. THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS WIRING AND, IF NECESSARY, PROPERLY CONNECT.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEView on NHTSA.gov
96V041000

WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER

Mar 1, 1996
206 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT WHEEL HUB CAN DEVELOP CRACKS AT THE WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS. WHEN MOUNTED TO THE HUB, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE DISC ROTOR DOES NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE HUB AT THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING EXCESSIVE STRESS AND FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE HUB.
The risk: SHOULD SUFFICIENT CRACKS OCCUR, THE MOUNTING FLANGE PORTION OF THE HUB ALONG WITH THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR THE SEPARATED WHEEL AND HUB COULD STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN OR PROPERTY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, REDESIGNED HUBS ON THESE VEHICLES.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Sep 29, 1999

FAN CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING BUS TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID
610298
Incident
Nov 19, 1998
Transmission
Filed Dec 6, 1996
Crash reported

WHILE FUELING AN IN-GROUND GAS TANK, SET THE HAND BRAKE AND PLACED TRUCK IN NEUTRAL, LEFT VEHICLE AND WALKED BEHIND IT, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, PINNING HIM BETWEEN VEHICLE AND STRUCTURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
511915
Incident
Oct 25, 1995
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 1996

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH DEFECTIVE. (6TH VEHICLE ON 603318)

NHTSA ID
603319

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

IK-0400107

SERVICE BRAKES

INTERNATIONAL: AFTER LINING CONDITION AND WEAR, FASTENER TORQUE, COMPONENT LUBRICATION HAVE BEEN VERIFIED ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE CHATTER OR SQUEALING ON THE TRUCKS, A PROCEDURE WILL BE PERFORMED. NO MODEL OR MODEL YEARS ARE LISTED. *PE UPDATED 12/20/13. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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—
1994Viewing340—
1993140—
1992050—
1991150—
1989030—
1988020—
1987120—
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.