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.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc
Manufacturer
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
35,074
Reported to NHTSA
2003-02-25
Owners notified
2004-10-29
Defect description
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.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer remedy
INTERNATIONAL WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 29, 2004.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL/TRANSIT BUSES AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE CASTINGS USED ON THE POWER STEERING PUMPS WERE NOT BUILT TO MATCH THE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS, RESULTING IN A THIN WALL IN THE PUMP CASTING OR A COMPLETE CONNECTION OF TWO PASSAGES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SEPARATED TO CONTROL FLUID FLOW. THE FLUID FLOW MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FLOW RATE TO PROVIDE FULL POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM WITH LOW ENGINE SPEED.
Safety risk
AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AT SLOW ENGINE SPEEDS CAN RESULT, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL PUMPS THAT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE CASTING NUMBERS.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Service brakes, air
2
16,208 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump
2
—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
10,738 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
1
13,450 mi
The 1999 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.