1995 International Harvester 3800: complaints, problems and recalls

WE FOUND 4 BUSES WITH CRACKED FRAMES APPROX. 6 INCHES BACK FROM THE SHOCK HANGER ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT. THEY WERE 95 MODEL THOMAS BUSES ON INTERNATIONAL FRAMES, WE TOOK THEM OUT OF SERVICE AND SENT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD A KIT TO MAKE THE REPAIRS @ THE COST OF THE DISTRICT. IF THERE WAS NOT A RECALL WHY WAS THERE NOT A LETTER SENT OUT TO WARN OF THE PROBLEM? *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171039 at NHTSA ↗

I AM A MEDIUM SIZED SCHOOL BUS FLEET. WE FOUND THE ABOVE VEHICLE HAS BOTH FRONT FRAME RAILS CRACKED. THIS DEFECT WAS FOUND DURING A ROUTINE PM INSPECTION. WE IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED 20 OTHER SCHOOL BUSES OF THE SAME VINTAGE IN OUR FLEET. WE FOUND 3 ADDITIONAL BUSES VIN# [XXX], [XXX], [XXX], EACH BUS HAS A CRACKED FRAME RAIL NEAR THE REAR ENGINE MOUNT. ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN PLACED OUT-OF-SERVICE TILL THEY CAN BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS WITH SEVERAL OTHER BUS CONTRACTORS, I HAVE FOUND ONE CONTRACTOR THAT HAD 7 CRACKED FRAMES ON…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740338 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1994-07-19 (July 19, 1994)

THESE BUSES WERE BUILT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 3/4 INCH THICK PLYWOOD FLOOR AND EXTRA THICK FLOOR MATS FOR INCREASED INSULATION DURING COLD WEATHER. THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE HEAD OF A BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION COVER TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE 1/2 INCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Reported: 1994-08-02 (August 2, 1994)

FOUR COMPRESSION BACKPLATE RETAINING FASTENERS ON THE TURBO-CHARGER WERE TORQUED ONLY HAND TIGHT. THIS ALLOWS THE FASTENERS TO LOOSEN, AND CAUSES OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COMPRESSOR AIR SIDE OF THE TURBO-CHARGER WHICH, WHEN COUPLED WITH THE HEAT PRECIPITATED BY THE COMPRESSOR AND THE MIXING ACTION OF THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL, CAN RESULT IN AN AIR/OIL MIXTURE THAT FUELS THE ENGINE.

Consequence: WHEN THIS OCCURS, ENGINE RUN-ON AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF OPERATOR CONTROL VIA THE NORMAL THROTTLE MECHANISM CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SUSPECT TURBO-CHARGER WITH A NEW TURBO-CHARGER.

Reported: 1996-03-01 (March 1, 1996)

THE FRONT WHEEL HUB CAN DEVELOP CRACKS AT THE WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS. WHEN MOUNTED TO THE HUB, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE DISC ROTOR DOES NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE HUB AT THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING EXCESSIVE STRESS AND FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE HUB.

Consequence: SHOULD SUFFICIENT CRACKS OCCUR, THE MOUNTING FLANGE PORTION OF THE HUB ALONG WITH THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR THE SEPARATED WHEEL AND HUB COULD STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN OR PROPERTY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, REDESIGNED HUBS ON THESE VEHICLES.

Reported: 1996-09-13 (September 13, 1996)

THE WIRING FROM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS CONNECTED TO THE WRONG WHEEL SENSOR OR TO THE WRONG BRAKE MODULATOR VALVE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EITHER OR BOTH WIRING MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT EITHER THE FRONT OR REAR AXLE OR BOTH AXLES.

Consequence: SHOULD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WIRING BE CROSSED, IT WOULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE. A SIGNAL WOULD BE SENT TO THE WRONG BRAKE CHAMBER WHEN A BRAKE IMBALANCE IS DETECTED. THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS WIRING AND, IF NECESSARY, PROPERLY CONNECT.