Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2007
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 1997 INTERNATIONAL 3800. DURING PM SERVICE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND WAS VISIBLE WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 1997 INTERNATIONAL 3800. DURING PM SERVICE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND WAS VISIBLE WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 08/28/07.
NHTSA ODI #10198138
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2007
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 1997 INTERNATIONAL 3800. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND WAS VISIBLE WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT'S COMPANY OWNS A 1997 INTERNATIONAL 3800. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CRACKED AND RUSTED. THE CRACK OCCURRED WHERE THE CAB MOUNTS TO THE FRAME AND WAS VISIBLE WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
NHTSA ODI #10198136
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1997
Structure
DRIVER'S FOOT WELL AREA GETS VERY HOT (OVERHEATED) IN THE FLOOR AREA, AND MAKES IT VERY UNBEARABLE FOR THE DRIVER TO OPERATE THE BUS. HAS A 466 E ENGINE. HAS 34 SCHOOL BUSES IN THIS SERIES. *AK
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 & remedy
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL I6 ELECTRONIC ENGINE AND AN EXTRA THICK BUS BODY FLOOR. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO FLOOR CLEARANCE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.2 INCHES WITH A STANDARD BUS BODY FLOOR. HOWEVER, SOME CUSTOMERS ORDERED AN ADDITIONAL 3/4 INCH THICK FLOOR AND EXTRA THICK FLOOR MATS TO SERVE AS INSULATION IN COLD CLIMATES. WHEN THIS EXTRA FLOORING IS USED, THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONTACT THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL COULD GET CAUGHT AND NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FLOORING ON THESE BUSES TO INSURE THERE IS A MINIMUM OF 1/4 INCH CLEARANCE. ON BUSES WITH LESS THAN 1/4 INCH CLEARANCE, THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE PEDAL AND CUT OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE PAD TO OBTAIN THE PROPER CLEARANCE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED BY DANA SPICER. CERTAIN REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED WHICH COULD ALLOW PINION BREAKAGE AT THE PINION THREADS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CRACKS CAN INITIATE AND RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE THREADED END OF THE PINION RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE YOKE AND DRIVE LINE FROM THE REAR AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE CARRIER/PINION ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA02034 · Overheating Front And Rear Brakes
Opened Dec 3, 2002 · Closed Feb 10, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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.
1997 International Harvester 3800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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