2002 International 4300 recalls and problems

The 2002 International 4300 has 9 recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2002 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 12 4300 model years — 2nd most.

9recalls

5complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

38,115median 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 →

9 recalls

Service Brakes

Aug 27, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V317000 · 686 vehicles

Problem: Certain heavy duty trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 121, "air brake systems." the primary and secondary air supply hoses from the foot valve to the primary and secondary air tanks were improperly routed at the tank.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY HOSES FROM THE FOOT VALVE TO THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR TANKS WERE IMPROPERLY ROUTED AT THE TANK.

Risk: If the primary air circuit is damaged, the brakes will not apply when the brake pedal is depressed increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE PRIMARY AIR CIRCUIT IS DAMAGED, THE BRAKES WILL NOT APPLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and repair vehicles. Owner notification will be completed by October 3, 2003. Owners who take their vehicle 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 recall no.03514. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Visibility

Apr 29, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V161000 · 15,354 vehicles

Problem: Certain heavy duty trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 104, "windshield wiping and washing systems." due to the design of the windshield washer pump motor circuit, the system's ability to function is impaired when it is full of frozen water and the pump motor shaft is locked or frozen (cannot rotate).

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP MOTOR CIRCUIT, THE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION IS IMPAIRED WHEN IT IS FULL OF FROZEN WATER AND THE PUMP MOTOR SHAFT IS LOCKED OR FROZEN (CANNOT ROTATE).

Risk: Any resultant reduced visibility could cause a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

ANY RESULTANT REDUCED VISIBILITY COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a new 10 amp fuse in place of the 5 amp fuse and a new 10 amp label will be placed over the original 5 amp designation on the fuse panel label. Owner notification began on June 27, 2003. 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 recall no. 01516.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Feb 25, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V062000 · 35,074 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

International will notify its customers and repair the buses free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2004.

International recall no. 03502/04501.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Parking Brake

Sep 20, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V260000 · 11,204 vehicles

Problem: On certain medium and heavy duty trucks built with driveline parking brake codes 04GAR, the parking brake assembly May not hold the vehicle in position when set. Factors contributing to this possibility are as follows: (1) cracked or broken cams; (2) loose or broken anchor bolts; (3) initial shoe diameter not set properly during assembly, which can lead to progressive component damage; (4) bent adjuster levers that cannot function; or (5) automatic adjuster cables that are disconnected.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH DRIVELINE PARKING BRAKE CODES 04GAR, THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE IN POSITION WHEN SET. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS POSSIBILITY ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) CRACKED OR BROKEN CAMS; (2) LOOSE OR BROKEN ANCHOR BOLTS; (3) INITIAL SHOE DIAMETER NOT SET PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PROGRESSIVE COMPONENT DAMAGE; (4) BENT ADJUSTER LEVERS THAT CANNOT FUNCTION; OR (5) AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER CABLES THAT ARE DISCONNECTED.

Risk: If the parking brake does not function properly, the vehicle could roll, without warning, after the parking brake lever has been set, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL, WITHOUT WARNING, AFTER THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER HAS BEEN SET, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the cam, lever, and bolt. Owner notification began December 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.

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

Power Train

Jul 12, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V174000 · 13,052 vehicles

Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with manual transmissions, lower clutch rods with turnbuckles are failing from fatigue near the turnbuckle due to bending forces experienced during each clutch pedal cycle.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, LOWER CLUTCH RODS WITH TURNBUCKLES ARE FAILING FROM FATIGUE NEAR THE TURNBUCKLE DUE TO BENDING FORCES EXPERIENCED DURING EACH CLUTCH PEDAL CYCLE.

Risk: The clutch rod can break without warning and make it difficult to shift and if the clutch rod breaks while the vehicle is stopped or decelerating, the vehicle could lunge unexpectedly in the direction of the selected gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE CLUTCH ROD CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND IF THE CLUTCH ROD BREAKS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE COULD LUNGE UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SELECTED GEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the clutch rod assembly with a solid rod design that does not have a turnbuckle. Owner notification began July 19, 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.

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

Mar 22, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V095000 · 155 vehicles

Problem: On certain trucks, the cotter pin that goes through the drag link ball stud at the connection to the pitman arm is missing. This pin prevents the castle nut from loosening.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE COTTER PIN THAT GOES THROUGH THE DRAG LINK BALL STUD AT THE CONNECTION TO THE PITMAN ARM IS MISSING. THIS PIN PREVENTS THE CASTLE NUT FROM LOOSENING.

Risk: If the nut loosens and comes completely off the drag link ball stud, the drag link could detach resulting in a loss of steering control.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE NUT LOOSENS AND COMES COMPLETELY OFF THE DRAG LINK BALL STUD, THE DRAG LINK COULD DETACH RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the vehicle and install a cotter pin if it is missing. Owner notification began April 15, 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.

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

Electrical System

Mar 22, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V094000 · 338 vehicles

Problem: Certain trucks equipped with engine starters (code 08WWN or 08WWP) built by leece-neville. These starters have a defective terminal adapter stud. The stud is used only at the positive battery connection to the starter solenoid. It was designed to be screwed on over the existing stud to increase the stud diameter to accommodate the larger size of the positive battery cable terminal. The adapter stud was weakened when the hole was drilled too deep.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE STARTERS (CODE 08WWN OR 08WWP) BUILT BY LEECE-NEVILLE. THESE STARTERS HAVE A DEFECTIVE TERMINAL ADAPTER STUD. THE STUD IS USED ONLY AT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION TO THE STARTER SOLENOID. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE SCREWED ON OVER THE EXISTING STUD TO INCREASE THE STUD DIAMETER TO ACCOMMODATE THE LARGER SIZE OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL. THE ADAPTER STUD WAS WEAKENED WHEN THE HOLE WAS DRILLED TOO DEEP.

Risk: This could lead to a direct electrical short to the batteries. If the stud breaks off, the positive battery cable could short directly to ground, which can generate heat and sparks causing a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD LEAD TO A DIRECT ELECTRICAL SHORT TO THE BATTERIES. IF THE STUD BREAKS OFF, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE COULD SHORT DIRECTLY TO GROUND, WHICH CAN GENERATE HEAT AND SPARKS CAUSING A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the adapter stud. Owner notification began April 15, 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.

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

Suspension

Feb 15, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V054000 · 1,442 vehicles

Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with iros rear air suspensions, during assembly, four bolts and nuts holding the main support member bushing bar pins to the main support member hangers were incorrectly tightened.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH IROS REAR AIR SUSPENSIONS, DURING ASSEMBLY, FOUR BOLTS AND NUTS HOLDING THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER BUSHING BAR PINS TO THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER HANGERS WERE INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.

Risk: The nuts could work loose or fall off allowing the bolts to fatigue and fail the connection between a main support member bushing and frame hanger. Separation of the main support member assembly from the frame mounted hanger bracket could result increasing the risk of sudden loss of control of the vehicle.

Original NHTSA wording

THE NUTS COULD WORK LOOSE OR FALL OFF ALLOWING THE BOLTS TO FATIGUE AND FAIL THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER BUSHING AND FRAME HANGER. SEPARATION OF THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER ASSEMBLY FROM THE FRAME MOUNTED HANGER BRACKET COULD RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install four new nuts and bolts and tighten to specification. Owner notification began March 15, 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.

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

Steering

Nov 15, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V353000 · 558 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Trucks. An incorrect grade 5 flange-nut was installed in place of a grade 8 nut and flat washer on the yoke pinch bolt that holds the connection between the lower end of the i-shaft and the steering gear.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS. AN INCORRECT GRADE 5 FLANGE-NUT WAS INSTALLED IN PLACE OF A GRADE 8 NUT AND FLAT WASHER ON THE YOKE PINCH BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF THE I-SHAFT AND THE STEERING GEAR.

Risk: If the pinch bolt nut experiences thread stripping, the yoke connection of the steering shaft to the steering gear box could fail and possibly result in loss of steering control.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE PINCH BOLT NUT EXPERIENCES THREAD STRIPPING, THE YOKE CONNECTION OF THE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX COULD FAIL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the grade 5 pinch bolt nut with the correct grade 8 nut and washer on all vehicles. Owner notification began December 17, 2001. 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 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

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

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

OVERHEATING FRONT AND REAR BRAKES

EA02034 · opened Dec 3, 2002 · closed Feb 10, 2004 · led to recall 03V062000

Summary

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.

2002 vs. other International 4300 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 International 4300 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns covering the 2002 International 4300, the latest from Aug 27, 2003 (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 2002 International 4300?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (3), service brakes (2), parking brake (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.