RecallRadar

HomeInternational Harvester3800 → 1996

1996 International Harvester 3800 Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Moderate

3 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Moderate96V239000

Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

SHOULD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONTACT THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL COULD GET CAUGHT AND NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION raises the risk of A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy & full details

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 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.

Moderate96V041000

Wheels:Hubcap/Cover

SHOULD SUFFICIENT CRACKS OCCUR, THE MOUNTING FLANGE PORTION OF THE HUB ALONG WITH THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, REDESIGNED HUBS ON THESE VEHICLES.

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.

Moderate96V174000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

SHOULD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WIRING BE CROSSED, IT WOULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy & full details

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

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.

Complaint volume

3 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 3 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System · Wiring1 · 33%Structure1 · 33%Engine1 · 33%
  1. Electrical System:Wiring — 1 reports
  2. Structure — 1 reports
  3. Engine — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (4) · 1996 · 1997 (3) · 1998 (1) · 1999 (2) · 2000 (3)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.