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HomeInternational Harvester4700 → 1997

1997 International Harvester 4700 Recalls & Complaints

4

open safety recalls on record

Serious

20 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 2.20 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious03V083000

Seats

IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY, raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A STOP-BRACKET ON THE SEAT TRACK TO LIMIT THE TRAVEL OF THE SEAT SO THAT THE SEAT CANNOT RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2003. 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 AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BOSTROM DRIVER SEAT MODELS 910, 910SC, OR 914 AND INTERNATIONAL'S PARKING BRAKE CODE 04036, IF SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE CAB ADJUSTS/SLIDES THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO ITS MOST FORWARD POSITION, WITH THE PARKING BRAKE SET, THE SEAT WILL CONTACT AND RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER.

Moderate96V233002

Suspension:Rear

THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Moderate96V240000

Suspension:Rear

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 raises the risk of A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE CARRIER/PINION ASSEMBLY.

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.

Moderate96V154000

Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

SHOULD THE COLUMN SEPARATE, THE OPERATOR WOULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY BUILT STEERING COLUMN WITH A NEW CORRECTLY BUILT STEERING COLUMN.

THE STEERING COLUMN USED WAS INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED. THE TUBE PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAS A WELDED END WITH A SPECIFIED LENGTH OF 5.5 INCHES. A 3.5 INCH WELDED END WAS USED BY MISTAKE. WITH THE SHORTER END, IT IS POSSIBLE THERE IS INSUFFICIENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE MALE END INTO THE TUBE PORTION AND SEPARATION OF THE COLUMN COULD OCCUR.

Complaint volume

20 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
6Injuries
2Deaths

Across 20 complaints. Severity Index 2.20.

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

Vehicle Speed Control4 · 20%Steering · Linkages · Tie…4 · 20%Visibility · Windshield W…2 · 10%Engine And Engine Cooling…2 · 10%Fuel System, Gasoline · S…1 · 5%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 5%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 5%Steering1 · 5%
  1. Vehicle Speed Control — 4 reports
  2. Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly — 4 reports
  3. Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer — 2 reports
  4. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings — 2 reports
  5. Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank — 1 reports
  6. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder — 1 reports
  7. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 1 reports
  8. Steering — 1 reports
  9. Tires — 1 reports
  10. Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical — 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 (5) · 1996 (1) · 1997 · 1998 (3) · 1999 (5) · 2000 (5) · 2001 (4)

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.