RoadVitals

1998 International Harvester Fe

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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 Jul 28, 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.
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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 International Harvester Fe. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

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
03V264000

STEERING

Jul 28, 2003
24,375 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL, TRANSIT, AND COMMERCIAL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMNS, THE STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT INTERFERES WITH THE RUBBER BOOT THAT PROTECTS IT. OVER TIME, A HOLE MAY WEAR INTO THE BOOT AND CATCH THE BOLT.
The risk: IF THE BOLT CATCHES ON THE HOLE, THE BOOT MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: INTERNATIONAL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATIONManufacturer number 03513View 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
02V135001

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

May 20, 2002
38,955 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES, A BRASS FITTING CONNECTS THE DOUBLE CHECK VALVE TO THE BRAKE RELAY VALVE. WITH CERTAIN INPUTS TO THE VEHICLE, THE WEIGHT OF THE CHECK VALVE ON THE FITTING CAN CAUSE THE ASSEMBLY TO RESONATE. THE SUBJECT VIBRATION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE STRAIN LEVELS IN THE FITTING, WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY FATIGUE AND FAIL.
The risk: IF THE FITTING BREAKS, THE REAR SERVICE BRAKES WILL CEASE TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A KIT TO REMOUNT THE DOUBLE CHECK VALVE WITH A FLEXIBLE HOSE ON THE AMJORITY OF VEHICLES. ON A SMALL NUMBER OF UNITS WITH CLEARANCE ISSUES OR TRACTION CONTROL, A KIT WITH A NEW RELAY VALVE THAT HAS A BUILT-IN DOUBLE CHECK VALVE WILL BE INSTALLED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. 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 AT 1-800-448-7825.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEManufacturer number 02505View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

IK-2200069

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

IKNOW: USE THE REINFORCEMENT KIT TO REPAIR BUS DOOR ENTRANCE FAILURES. APPLIES TO VEHICLE MODELS CS, IC, BE CE, FE, RE BUSES BUILT BEFORE 9/15/2011. *JS UPDATED 12/18/13. *PE

IK-2200082

STRUCTURE

IKNOW: IN SOME VEHICLES THE PASSENGER HEATER BLOWER MOTORS, UNDER THE SEAT AND MOUNTED ON THE REAR WALL, MAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY APPLIES TO MODELS CS,IC,FE, AND RE BUILT BEFORE JANUARY 2010. *JS

IK-2200060

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

INTERNATIONAL BUS: BUS, PASSENGER WINDOW PLASTIC GUIDE. PASSENGER SPLIT SASH WINDOWS THAT ARE HARD TO SLIDE AND EXHIBIT LATCHING ISSUES MAY HAVE THE PLASTIC SLIDE BROKEN LOOSE AND OUT OF POSITION CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BIND. WINDOWS ARE HARD TO SLIDE UP/DOWN; WINDOWS APPEAR TO BE OUT OF SQUARE; AND WINDOWS THAT ONLY LATCH ON ONE SIDE. MODELS BE, CE, FE AND RE BUS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 1/7/13. *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 Fe by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001050—
2000050—
1999050—
1998Viewing030—
1997030—
1996020—
1995020—
1994120—
1993020—
1992010—

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.