RoadVitals

1997 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 Aug 1, 2007
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.
3
Latest Feb 25, 2003
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.
1
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 International Harvester 3800, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; 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

  • Body & structure3100.0%

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

3 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
03V062000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

Feb 25, 2003
35,074 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES BUILT WITH BOSCH ZERO OFFSET PIN SLIDE (ZOPS) HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES, THE ZOPS HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES MAY EXPERIENCE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION, WHICH CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE OR ABNORMAL HEAT GENERATION AT ONE OR MORE OF THE BRAKES.
The risk: THE COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS MAY COLLECTIVELY RESULT IN AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY: POTENTIAL FIRE AT A WHEEL END, HIGH INCIDENT RATES OF STUCK CALIPERS, AND EVACUATION AND CONTAINMENT CONCERNS RELATING TO MULTIPLE PASSENGERS.
The remedy: INTERNATIONAL WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 29, 2004.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATIONManufacturer number 03502/04501View on NHTSA.gov
96V239000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Nov 27, 1996
727 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL I6 ELECTRONIC ENGINE AND AN EXTRA THICK BUS BODY FLOOR. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FLOOR CLEARANCE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 INCHES WITH A STANDARD BUS BODY FLOOR. HOWEVER, SOME CUSTOMERS ORDERED AN ADDITIONAL 3/4 INCH THICK FLOOR AND EXTRA THICK FLOOR MATS TO SERVE AS INSULATION IN COLD CLIMATES. WHEN THIS EXTRA FLOORING IS USED, THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR.
The risk: SHOULD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONTACT THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL COULD GET CAUGHT AND NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FLOORING ON THESE BUSES TO INSURE THERE IS A MINIMUM OF 1/4 INCH CLEARANCE. ON BUSES WITH LESS THAN 1/4 INCH CLEARANCE, THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE PEDAL AND CUT OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE PAD TO OBTAIN THE PROPER CLEARANCE.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEView on NHTSA.gov
96V240000

SUSPENSION:REAR

Nov 27, 1996
233 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED BY DANA SPICER. CERTAIN REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED WHICH COULD ALLOW PINION BREAKAGE AT THE PINION THREADS.
The risk: CRACKS CAN INITIATE AND RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE THREADED END OF THE PINION RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE YOKE AND DRIVE LINE FROM THE REAR AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE CARRIER/PINION ASSEMBLY.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02034ClosedEngineering Analysis

OVERHEATING FRONT AND REAR BRAKES

Opened Dec 3, 2002
Closed Feb 10, 2004

THIS INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKSAND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS WEIGHING UP TO 33,000 POUNDS, EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND BUILT WITH THE BOSCH ZERO OFFSET PIN SLIDE (ZOPS)BRAKE SYSTEM CALIPERS.INTERNATIONAL USED THE ZOPS CALIPERS FROM APRIL 1997 THROUGH JUNE 2002.ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING IN THE APPLIED POSITION, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE HEAT.AS THE INVESTIGATION PROGRESSED, ODI BECAME AWARE OF WHEEL END FIRES, SOME OF WHICH OCCURRED ON SCHOOL BUSES.DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI OBTAINED WARRANTY DATA WHICH WAS SORTED AND ANALYZED BY VRTC TEST ENGINEERS AND ODI TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM.AFTER A THOROUGH WARRANTY DATA ANALYSIS, RELATED TESTING AND DOCUMENT REVIEWS, ODI MET WITH INTERNATIONAL, SHARED THE DATA ANALYSIS AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, INTERNATIONAL AGREED TO A SAFETY RECALL.FURTHER DETAILS ARE INCLUDED ON PAGES 2 - 4.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICLed to recall 03V062000

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 1997 INTERNATIONAL 3800. DURING PM SERVICE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND WAS VISIBLE WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 08/28/07.

NHTSA ID
10198138
Incident
Jul 15, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 1997 INTERNATIONAL 3800. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND WAS VISIBLE WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ID
10198136
Incident
Jul 15, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 1997

DRIVER'S FOOT WELL AREA GETS VERY HOT (OVERHEATED) IN THE FLOOR AREA, AND MAKES IT VERY UNBEARABLE FOR THE DRIVER TO OPERATE THE BUS. HAS A 466 E ENGINE. HAS 34 SCHOOL BUSES IN THIS SERIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
815698
Incident
Jul 15, 1997

Manufacturer communications

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

G98506

PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE

VEHICLE RECALL REGARDING THE DCM PARKING BRAKE DRUM SEPARATING FROM THE TRANSMISSION FLANGE YOKE AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPANION FLANGE DUE TO AN ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. *TT

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—
1997Viewing331—
1996230—
1995840—
1994340—
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.