1998 International Harvester 3800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
44,540 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10102431 · 2004-12-09 (December 9, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE OPERATOR SMELLED SOMETHING HOT. UPON STOPPING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE THE OPERATOR SAW FIRE COMMING FROM BEHIND THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.*AK OUR MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CLAMPS HOLDING THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY LEADS HAD WORN THROUGH THE INSULATION CREATING A DEAD SHORT. THE SAME DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED ON ANOTHER OF OUR SCHOOL BUSES THAT HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,080 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169672 · 2006-10-01 (October 1, 2006)
INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK AND IT IS A PROBLEM THAT COMES FROM INTERNATIONAL AS TOLD TO US BY INTERNATIONAL SERVICE MAN. WE CAN PAY 600 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY IF IT COMES FROM INTERNATIONAL. WE HAVE 3 BUSES ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10169672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234960 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
1998 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUS INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561362 · 2001-05-30 (May 30, 2001)
THE SCHOOL BUS EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AND ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED IS INCREASED DURING STEERING OPERATION, THE ORIGINAL PUMP #2107611 WAS REPLACED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561362 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V062000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
Reported: 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
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.
Consequence: 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: INTERNATIONAL WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 29, 2004.
NHTSA campaign record ↗