RoadVitals

1999 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.
9
Latest Jul 20, 2008
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 Jun 3, 2004
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 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 International Harvester 3800, most frequently naming the brakes and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

  • Brakes666.7%
  • Electrical333.3%

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

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
04V269000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

Jun 3, 2004
81,883 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES AND TRUCK MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 28, 1999, THROUGH APRIL 5, 2004, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) MAY MISINTERPRET A CORRUPT WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL.
The risk: THE CORRUPT WHEEL SPEED SIGNALS MAY IMPROPERLY ACTIVATE THE ABS, INSTEAD OF DEACTIVATING THE ABS. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE DRIVER EXPERIENCING A HARD PEDAL FEEL AND A DECREASE IN DECELERATION AT THE END OF THE STOP, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.
The remedy: INTERNATIONAL WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT AND REPAIR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-327-4236.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATIONManufacturer number 04507/04508View 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

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

View all 9
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2008

INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234962
Incident
Jul 18, 2008
Mileage
21,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2008

INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234961
Incident
Jul 18, 2008
Mileage
22,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 2004

THE BUS GAUGES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH CONSUMER OWNS THREE OF THE SAME VEHICLES AND ALL EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. FAILURE OCCURS WHILE MOVING OR AT A STOP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD OCCUR 7 TIMES IN A DAY THEN NOTHING FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. THERE'S NO PATTERN. THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, AND SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND CLEANED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *PH

NHTSA ID
10048398
Incident
May 1, 2001
Mileage
20,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES OVERHEATING, ROTORS ARE WARPED. EXCESSIVE DRAG ON FRONT BRAKES, ABS SENSOR DAMAGED DUE TO HEAT. REPLACED ROTORS, CALIPER, AND PADS ON FRONT AXLE. OVER $800.00 IN REPAIRS. *MR *CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10032452
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2003

DURING AN INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEATING OF CALIPERS AND WEAR OF PADS. *MR *CB

NHTSA ID
10031910
Mileage
10,490 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2003

THE REAR BRAKES OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE REAR BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE OK; NO DRAG. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE AND RECHECKED THE BUS BUT STILL FOUND NO BRAKE DRAG. *MR *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID
10031908
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2001

INTERMITTENT LIGHT ON DASH, INDICATING ANTI - LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID
755221
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2001

INTERMITTENT LIGHT ON DASH, INDICATING ANTI - LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID
755220
Incident
Sep 1, 2000

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

International Harvester 3800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001021—
2000931—
1999Viewing921—
1998411—
1997331—
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.