2004 International 3800 recalls and problems

The 2004 International 3800 has 2 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.

How the 2004 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

2recalls

1complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Service Brakes

Jun 3, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V269000 · 81,883 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Steering

May 27, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V250000 · 5,999 vehicles

Problem: On certain school and transit buses the studs used to secure the power steering pump to the engine block can fail, resulting in engine oil leakage and complete loss of power steering. The power steering pump is designed to provide power assist to both the steering system and the hydraulic braking system. Should stud failure cause the pump to become disengaged from its drive gears, a reduction of the fluid flow rate to the brake system could occur and possibly cause an extended stopping distance as well as increased steering wheel efforts.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES THE STUDS USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK CAN FAIL, RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE POWER ASSIST TO BOTH THE STEERING SYSTEM AND THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. SHOULD STUD FAILURE CAUSE THE PUMP TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM ITS DRIVE GEARS, A REDUCTION OF THE FLUID FLOW RATE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM COULD OCCUR AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AS WELL AS INCREASED STEERING WHEEL EFFORTS.

Risk: Sudden loss of power steering will impair the vehicle operator, possible resulting in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WILL IMPAIR THE VEHICLE OPERATOR, POSSIBLE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

International will notify its customers and all vehicles will be inspected and any suspect studs will be replaced. Owner notification began September 24,2004. 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 at 1-800-448-7825.

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Service Brakes1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

NHTSA investigations

POWER STEERING STUD FAILURE

PE04015 · opened Feb 18, 2004 · closed Jun 4, 2004 · led to recall 04V250000

Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON A REPORT FROM A VIRGINIA SCHOOL BUS FLEET.THE FLEET REPORTED THAT ONE OF THEIR DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT SHE ?COULD NOT STEER THE BUS.?AN INSPECTION OF THE BUS REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE.THE FLEET THEN INSPECTED OTHER BUSES ON THE LOT AND FOUND FOUR BUSES WHERE THE BOLTS WERE EITHER MISSING, OR THE STUD HAD BROKEN.SUBSEQUENT STUD TESTING BY INTERNATIONAL REVEALED THE HARDNESS OF THE RETURNED STUDS WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION.INTERNATIONAL HAS AGREED TO INITATE A SAEFTY RECALL TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STUDS ON THE AFFECTED VEHILCES. A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

2004 vs. other International 3800 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 International 3800 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2004 International 3800, the latest from Jun 3, 2004 (service brakes). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 International 3800?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.