RoadVitals

2002 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.
4
Latest May 9, 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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 International 3800, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 73 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

  • Engine250.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Steering125.0%

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

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

Engine
Filed May 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INTERNATIONAL 3800. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY DECELERATED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10227177
Incident
Feb 12, 2008
Mileage
45,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INTERNATIONAL 3800. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY DECELERATED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. AFTER THE REPAIR, THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10227176
Incident
Apr 13, 2007
Mileage
55,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 2005

DT: MR. BROOKS WORKS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. HE RECEIVED 102 RECALLS FOR THE BUSES IN THE HARRISON COUNTY DISTRICT OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS CONCERNING ABS BRAKE FAILURE. THE RECALLS WERE FOR DIFFERENT FAILURES ON DIFFERENT SCHOOL BUSES. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 102 BUSES IN THIS DISTRICTREGARDING SAFETY DEFECTCORRECTIVE ACTIONS. THE ROCKING TRUCKING DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALLS, THE OTHER DEALERSHIP COULD NOT MAKE TIME TO DO REPAIR WORK AS INDICATED ON THE RECALL NOTICES. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS, BUT THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10138919
Incident
Oct 4, 2005
Steering
Filed Sep 10, 2002

THE PERSON IS IN CHARGE OF MAINTENANCE FOR SCHOOL BUSES RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V148000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02505 CONCERNING POWER STEERING PUMP. HAD A FLEET OF BUSES RANGING FROM 1997-2002. H. L. GAGE, NEAR WASHINGTON AVENUE IN ALBANY, NY HAD NOT RECEIVED PARTS AS OF JUNE 2002. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8018315

Manufacturer communications

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

IK4300035

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This tool is designed to compare Diamond Logic feature data across multiple vehicle configuration files. It allows users to quickly load files either manually or directly from the Diamond Logic Builder Vehicles folder using VIN-based selection. As files are added or removed, the comparison runs automatically with no manual action required. The program presents results in an interactive table that shows feature codes, descriptions, access levels, and whether each feature is present in each selected file. Built-in search, filtering, and sorting make it easy to locate specific features or focus only on differences between files. Column visibility can be customized to show or hide descriptions and access information as needed. Users can remove files individually or clear all files at once, with results updating instantly. The tool also includes reporting and export options that reflect exactly what is visible on screen, allowing results to be printed, copied, saved as text, or exported to CSV for use in Excel or other spreadsheet tools. Overall, the program streamlines the process of comparing vehicle feature configurations, helping users quickly identify differences, validate setups, and document results without manual comparison or external tools.

IK2600047

ENGINE

Engine replacements for all International engines will need to follow this procedure.

IK1600272

STRUCTURE:BODY

This document will guide the user through a step-by-step procedure for detecting water leaks in vehicle cabs and windshields using an ultrasonic sound detector.

IK0600030

POWER TRAIN

This document will guide the user through understanding Prop Shaft Codes and understanding the variations of prop codes. (Metric Prop codes start with the number a 4 and Non metric Prop codes start with a 2.)

IK1201009

STRUCTURE:BODY

In some geographic areas, ambient temperatures reaching below 15°F (-10 °C), including high levels of humidity, an operator may experience engine stalling, low performance, and or poor aftertreatment performance. This is caused by condensation accumulating and freezing within the Charge Air Cooler (CAC); affecting air flow into the engine. This article lists all the currently available winter front covers that can be installed on the front grille and bumper to reduce cold air flow to the engine compartment.

IK3400001

Title: Service Portal iKNow Feedback Case Types Applies To: All

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—
2002Viewing421—
1990240—

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.