RoadVitals

1998 Navistar 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 Aug 31, 2000
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.
6
Latest Nov 23, 1999
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Navistar 3800, most frequently naming the brakes and steering categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 2 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

  • Brakes266.7%
  • Steering133.3%

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
99V331000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Nov 23, 1999
277 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS. AN AIR BRAKE LINE CONTROLLING THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING.
The risk: EXHAUST PIPE HEAT CAN MELT OR CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS AIR LINE IF THE AIR LINE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ELBOW FITTING AND REROUTE THE AIR LINE. THE AIR LINE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF FOUND TO BE DAMAGED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEView on NHTSA.gov
99V263000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Sep 21, 1999
105 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH ABS AIR BRAKE ECU AND A 100 GALLON FUEL TANK MOUNTED BETWEEN THE RAILS AND BEHIND THE REAR AXLE ON MODELS WITH A 276" WHEEL BASE. THE ABS ECU INTERFERED WITH THE CROSS MEMBER MOUNTED BEHIND THE REAR AXLE AND IN FRONT OF THE BETWEEN THE RAILS FUEL TANK. THIS CREATED A NO-BUILD SITUATION AT THE PLANT - THE PLANT WOULD EITHER ELIMINATE OR RELOCATE THE CROSS MEMBER OR MOVE THE ECU AS NEEDED.
The risk: IF THE CROSS MEMBER IS EITHER MISSING OR RELOCATED THE VEHICLE MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FUEL TANK PROTECTION. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE BUS MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FUEL TANK PROTECTION IF THE VEHICLE HAS A MISSING OR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CROSSMEMBER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO MAKE SURE ALL CROSS MEMBERS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE CROSS MEMBER IS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY OR IS MISSING, THE DEALER WILL REPAIR OR INSTALL THE CROSS MEMBER.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEManufacturer number 99509View on NHTSA.gov
99V033001

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

Feb 16, 1999
40,091 units potentially affected
The defect: SCHOOL, TRANSIT, OR HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPICER 6,000 OR 8,000 LB. FRONT STEER AXLES. THE TIE ROD END CAN PULL OUTBOARD AND SEPARATE FROM THE TIE ROD TUBE DUE TO IMPROPER THREAD ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE MALE TIE ROD END AND THE FEMALE TUBE.
The risk: SEPARATION OF THE TIE ROD END COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY.
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINEManufacturer number 99501View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE98004ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

UNDERHOOD FIRES

Opened Feb 5, 1998
Closed Apr 21, 1998

ALLEGED UNDERHOOD FIRES DUE TO ELECTRICAL OR FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 2000

THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WAS RETURNING TO THE BUS COMPOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PRESSURE WARNING BUZZER CAME ON. SHE PULLED TO THE GAS PUMPS AND STOPPED HER BUS(SHE HAD BRAKES AT THIS TIME). THE DRIVER STOOD UP AND WAS ABOUT TO EXIT THE BUS WHEN SHE HEARD A "POP" THE ELECTRIC BRAKE ASSIST CAME ON. BRAKE PEDAL ROD CAME OUT OF THE POWER ASSIST HEAD. ROD WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE OF THESE TO COME APART. THE OTHER WAS REPORTED TO NHTSA JUNE 2000. THE LOCAL DEALER CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE ROD CAME APART. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE UNIT AND SENT IT TO THE FACTORY? I HAVE (40) 1998 BUSES. I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE INSPECTED THE BUSES AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN/IF THE ROD WILL FALL OUT. WHEN THIS ROD FALLS OUT YOU HAVE NO BRAKES! THE PEDAL FALLS TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
729642
Incident
Aug 29, 2000
BrakesSteering
Filed Dec 1, 1999

STEERING LOCKS OR REQUIRES MORE EFFORT TO TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FIRMLY DEPRESSED. THIS MAY ALSO BE THE REASON WE HAVE SO MANY BRAKE PRESSURE ALARMS GOING OFF. THE DRIVER OFTEN IGNORES THE ALARM OR TURNS THE BUS OFF AND RESTARTS IT TO RESET THE ALARM. ALL 40 OF OUR 1998 BUSES HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. VIN# PWH528774,P6WH528778,P8WH528779,P1WH528784,P9WH528788,P0WH528792,P4WHA528794,P3WH528799,P3WH528804,P7WH528806,P2WH528809,P2WH528812,P4WH528813,P2WH528776,P4WH528777,P6WH528781,P8WH528782,PXWH528783,P5WH528786,P7WH28787,P1WH528798,P8WH528801,PXWH528802,P1WH528803,P9WH528807,P0WH528775,P4WH528780,P3WH528785,P0WH528789,P7WH528790,P9WH528791,P2WH528793,P6WH528795,P8WH528796,PXWH528797,P6WH528800,P5WH528805,P0WH528808,P9WH528810,P0WH528811

NHTSA ID
715475
Incident
Nov 30, 1999

Manufacturer communications

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

IK-0500038

STEERING

NAVISTAR: STEERING GOES INTO A SHIMMY AFTER HITTING A BUMP. *RM UPDATED 3/20/12. *PE

G98507

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION CORP. HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE OIL HOSE ON THE T444E DIESEL ENGINE. *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

Navistar 3800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999060—
1998Viewing261—
1997251—
1996120—
1995110—
1994010—
1993010—
1992010—
1991010—
1990101—
1989101—

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.