RoadVitals

1990 International 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.
2
Latest Sep 30, 2002
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 International 3800, most frequently naming the body & structure and transmission categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 16 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Transmission150.0%

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

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
95V127000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

Jun 27, 1995
21,742 units potentially affected
The defect: THE WIRE END OF THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE PASSES THROUGH A SPLIT PLASTIC GROMMET IN THE ACCELERATOR ROD. THIS WIRE CAN WORK THROUGH THE SLOT IN THE GROMMET AND BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE GROMMET AND THE EDGE OF THE HOLE IN THE ACCELERATOR ROD.
The risk: IF THE THROTTLE WIRE BECOMES LODGED, THE ACCELERATOR CAN STICK AND NOT RETURN TO IDLE POSITION POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR BUSES BY INSTALLING A NEW CABLE GROMMET WITHOUT A SLOT; INSTALL A NEW CABLE STOP; AND READJUST THE THROTTLE CABLE.
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

Body & structure
Filed Sep 30, 2002

INTERNATIONAL HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE FRAME RAILS BUT JACKSON CITY SCHOOLS MUST PAY FOR THE LABOR AT A COST OF $4000 PER BUS. STATE HIGHWAY PATROL INSPECTORS FOR THIS SOUTHEASTERN PART OF OHIO INFORMED MY MECHANICS THAT THEY HAD FOUND SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL BUSES IN OTHER DISTRICTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MR

NHTSA ID
767911
Incident
Aug 10, 2002
Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 1998

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO STOP PULLING.

NHTSA ID
780639
Incident
Sep 18, 1998

Manufacturer communications

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

IK1400005

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

Driveline Information Center and Troubleshooting Procedures

IK0800475

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

Radio Diagnostics and Information

IK1900022

ENGINE

A/C Refrigerant and Oil Capacities

IK4300001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Updating OnCommand Link with Accelerator

IK0800080

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

J1939 Data Link Troubleshooting

IK1200921

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

ISX, N13, and N9 / N10 Aftertreatment Private Data Link Troubleshooting

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 3800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004121—
2003030—
2002421—
1990Viewing240—

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.