1999 International Harvester 3800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
20,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 55.6% |
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 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Service Brakes, Air: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (4). 5 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 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
2001: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10031908 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
THE REAR BRAKES OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE REAR BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE OK; NO DRAG. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE AND RECHECKED THE BUS BUT STILL FOUND NO BRAKE DRAG. *MR *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031910 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
DURING AN INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEATING OF CALIPERS AND WEAR OF PADS. *MR *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032452 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES OVERHEATING, ROTORS ARE WARPED. EXCESSIVE DRAG ON FRONT BRAKES, ABS SENSOR DAMAGED DUE TO HEAT. REPLACED ROTORS, CALIPER, AND PADS ON FRONT AXLE. OVER $800.00 IN REPAIRS. *MR *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048398 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
THE BUS GAUGES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH CONSUMER OWNS THREE OF THE SAME VEHICLES AND ALL EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. FAILURE OCCURS WHILE MOVING OR AT A STOP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD OCCUR 7 TIMES IN A DAY THEN NOTHING FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. THERE'S NO PATTERN. THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, AND SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND CLEANED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234961 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234962 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 755207 · 2001-12-03 (December 3, 2001)
INTERMITTENT LIGHT ON DASH INDICATING ANTI - LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 755220 · 2001-12-03 (December 3, 2001)
INTERMITTENT LIGHT ON DASH, INDICATING ANTI - LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755220 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 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 ↗04V269000 · Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Wheel Speed Sensor
Reported: 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)
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.
Consequence: 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
9 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0% | 133.3% | 675.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10234960 · 20,000 mi1998 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUS INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR | 333.3%ODI 10048398 · 20,000 miTHE BUS GAUGES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH CONSUMER OWNS THREE OF THE SAME VEHICLES AND ALL EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. FAILURE OCCURS WHILE MOVING OR AT A STOP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD OCCUR 7 TIMES IN A DAY THEN NOTHING FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. THERE'S NO PATTERN. THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, AND SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND CLEANED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *PH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Air | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 10031908THE REAR BRAKES OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE REAR BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE OK; NO DRAG. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE AND RECHECKED THE BUS BUT STILL FOUND NO BRAKE DRAG. *MR *CB *NLM | 222.2%ODI 10032453DURING INSPECTION THE RIGHT REAR PADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY, AND THERE WERE SIGNS OF OVERHEATING ON THE CALIPER AND WHEEL. *MR CB* *JB | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 333.3%ODI 755207INTERMITTENT LIGHT ON DASH INDICATING ANTI - LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONING.*AK | 111.1%ODI 755212INTERMITTENT LIGHT ON DASH, INDICATING ANTI - LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 767913SECOND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUS THAT HAS HAD CRACKED FRAME RAILS. MR | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 225.0%ODI 10171039WE 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10198138TL*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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 561362THE 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 561583THE POWER STEERING PUMP (LUK #LF73C) FAILED ON FOUR OCCASIONS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS UPON ACCELERATION, BUS #62. NLM | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10031910 · 10,490 miDURING AN INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEATING OF CALIPERS AND WEAR OF PADS. *MR *CB | 111.1%ODI 10031914 · 10,738 miTHE BRAKES OVERHEATED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED AND REPAIRED THE FRONT PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS. *MR *CB *NLM | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Structure | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0% | 133.3%ODI 815698DRIVER'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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 21,000 mi | 3 (sparse) | ODI 10048398 · 20,000 miTHE BUS GAUGES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH CONSUMER OWNS THREE OF THE SAME VEHICLES AND ALL EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. FAILURE OCCURS WHILE MOVING OR AT A STOP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD OCCUR 7 TIMES IN A DAY THEN NOTHING FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. THERE'S NO PATTERN. THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD, AND SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND CLEANED BUT TO NO AVAIL. *PH |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Too few reports for a range | 10,490 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10031910 · 10,490 miDURING AN INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN FOUND SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEATING OF CALIPERS AND WEAR OF PADS. *MR *CB |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2000: 5 complaints · 2001: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Service Brakes, Air | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.