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1998 Navistar 3800 Recalls & Complaints

6

open safety recalls on record

Critical

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

The recalls

Critical98V291000

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OIL HOSE AND PLACE AN ADDITIONAL CONVOLUTED LOOM AROUND THE EXISTING OIL HOSE, OR REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH T444E DIESEL ENGINES. A FUEL LEAK CAN OCCUR BECAUSE OF OVERCRIMPING OF THE HOSE END FITTINGS ON THE HOSE FROM THE REGULATOR TO THE LEFT HEAD AND THE HOSE FROM THE FUEL TRANSFER PUMP TO THE REGULATOR.

Serious99V263000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

IF THE CROSS MEMBER IS EITHER MISSING OR RELOCATED THE VEHICLE MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FUEL TANK PROTECTION.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO MAKE SURE ALL CROSS MEMBERS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED. IF THE CROSS MEMBER IS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY OR IS MISSING, THE DEALER WILL REPAIR OR INSTALL THE CROSS MEMBER.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH ABS AIR BRAKE ECU AND A 100 GALLON FUEL TANK MOUNTED BETWEEN THE RAILS AND BEHIND THE REAR AXLE ON MODELS WITH A 276" WHEEL BASE. THE ABS ECU INTERFERED WITH THE CROSS MEMBER MOUNTED BEHIND THE REAR AXLE AND IN FRONT OF THE BETWEEN THE RAILS FUEL TANK. THIS CREATED A NO-BUILD SITUATION AT THE PLANT - THE PLANT WOULD EITHER ELIMINATE OR RELOCATE THE CROSS MEMBER OR MOVE THE ECU AS NEEDED.

Serious99V033001

Steering:Linkages:Rod:Relay:Connecting

SEPARATION OF THE TIE ROD END COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, raises the risk of A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY.

SCHOOL, TRANSIT, OR HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPICER 6,000 OR 8,000 LB. FRONT STEER AXLES. THE TIE ROD END CAN PULL OUTBOARD AND SEPARATE FROM THE TIE ROD TUBE DUE TO IMPROPER THREAD ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE MALE TIE ROD END AND THE FEMALE TUBE.

Moderate99V331000

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

EXHAUST PIPE HEAT CAN MELT OR CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS AIR LINE IF THE AIR LINE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ELBOW FITTING AND REROUTE THE AIR LINE. THE AIR LINE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF FOUND TO BE DAMAGED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS. AN AIR BRAKE LINE CONTROLLING THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING.

Moderate98V289000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE HOSE WILL FAIL, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOSES AND IF THE HOSE IS NOT DAMAGED A CONVOLUTED HOSE WILL BE PLACED OVER THE CURRENT HOSE. IF THE HOSE IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CONVOLUTED HOSE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A T444E DIESEL ENGINE. THE HIGH PRESSURE OILLINE FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THAT GOES FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMP TO THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD CAN CHAFE AGAINST THE CHARGE AIR COOLER CROSSOVER PIPE.

Moderate98V228000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum

BOLTS WILL EVENTUALLY WORK OUT OR SHEAR RESULTING IN DRUM AND DRIVE SHAFT SEPARATION.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THESE BOLTS AND RE-TORQUE TO SPECIFICATION.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 1710 DRIVE LINE AND A 12 X 4 HYDRAULIC PARKING BRAKE. IF THE BRAKE DRUM OR TRANSMISSION YOKE ARE NOT FULLY SEATED WHEN THE EIGHT BOLTS ARE INSTALLED CONNECTING THE 3-PIECE JOINT, THE BOLTS CAN LOOSEN.

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

Steering · Hydraulic Powe…1 · 33%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 33%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 33%
  1. Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System — 1 reports
  2. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist — 1 reports
  3. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components — 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 (1) · 1996 (2) · 1997 (5) · 1998

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.