Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
686
Reported to NHTSA
2003-08-27
Owners notified
2003-10-03
Defect description
CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY HOSES FROM THE FOOT VALVE TO THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR TANKS WERE IMPROPERLY ROUTED AT THE TANK.
Safety risk
IF THE PRIMARY AIR CIRCUIT IS DAMAGED, THE BRAKES WILL NOT APPLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE 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.
CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP MOTOR CIRCUIT, THE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION IS IMPAIRED WHEN IT IS FULL OF FROZEN WATER AND THE PUMP MOTOR SHAFT IS LOCKED OR FROZEN (CANNOT ROTATE).
Safety risk
ANY RESULTANT REDUCED VISIBILITY COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW 10 AMP FUSE IN PLACE OF THE 5 AMP FUSE AND A NEW 10 AMP LABEL WILL BE PLACED OVER THE ORIGINAL 5 AMP DESIGNATION ON THE FUSE PANEL LABEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 27, 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.
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.
ON CERTAIN MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH DRIVELINE PARKING BRAKE CODES 04GAR, THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE IN POSITION WHEN SET. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS POSSIBILITY ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) CRACKED OR BROKEN CAMS; (2) LOOSE OR BROKEN ANCHOR BOLTS; (3) INITIAL SHOE DIAMETER NOT SET PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PROGRESSIVE COMPONENT DAMAGE; (4) BENT ADJUSTER LEVERS THAT CANNOT FUNCTION; OR (5) AUTOMATIC ADJUSTER CABLES THAT ARE DISCONNECTED.
Safety risk
IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL, WITHOUT WARNING, AFTER THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER HAS BEEN SET, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAM, LEVER, AND BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 30, 2002. 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 MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, LOWER CLUTCH RODS WITH TURNBUCKLES ARE FAILING FROM FATIGUE NEAR THE TURNBUCKLE DUE TO BENDING FORCES EXPERIENCED DURING EACH CLUTCH PEDAL CYCLE.
Safety risk
THE CLUTCH ROD CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND IF THE CLUTCH ROD BREAKS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE COULD LUNGE UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SELECTED GEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLUTCH ROD ASSEMBLY WITH A SOLID ROD DESIGN THAT DOES NOT HAVE A TURNBUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2002. 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.
CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE STARTERS (CODE 08WWN OR 08WWP) BUILT BY LEECE-NEVILLE. THESE STARTERS HAVE A DEFECTIVE TERMINAL ADAPTER STUD. THE STUD IS USED ONLY AT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CONNECTION TO THE STARTER SOLENOID. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE SCREWED ON OVER THE EXISTING STUD TO INCREASE THE STUD DIAMETER TO ACCOMMODATE THE LARGER SIZE OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL. THE ADAPTER STUD WAS WEAKENED WHEN THE HOLE WAS DRILLED TOO DEEP.
Safety risk
THIS COULD LEAD TO A DIRECT ELECTRICAL SHORT TO THE BATTERIES. IF THE STUD BREAKS OFF, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE COULD SHORT DIRECTLY TO GROUND, WHICH CAN GENERATE HEAT AND SPARKS CAUSING A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ADAPTER STUD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002. 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 TRUCKS, THE COTTER PIN THAT GOES THROUGH THE DRAG LINK BALL STUD AT THE CONNECTION TO THE PITMAN ARM IS MISSING. THIS PIN PREVENTS THE CASTLE NUT FROM LOOSENING.
Safety risk
IF THE NUT LOOSENS AND COMES COMPLETELY OFF THE DRAG LINK BALL STUD, THE DRAG LINK COULD DETACH RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND INSTALL A COTTER PIN IF IT IS MISSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002. 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 IROS REAR AIR SUSPENSIONS, DURING ASSEMBLY, FOUR BOLTS AND NUTS HOLDING THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER BUSHING BAR PINS TO THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER HANGERS WERE INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.
Safety risk
THE NUTS COULD WORK LOOSE OR FALL OFF ALLOWING THE BOLTS TO FATIGUE AND FAIL THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER BUSHING AND FRAME HANGER. SEPARATION OF THE MAIN SUPPORT MEMBER ASSEMBLY FROM THE FRAME MOUNTED HANGER BRACKET COULD RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL FOUR NEW NUTS AND BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 15, 2002. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS. AN INCORRECT GRADE 5 FLANGE-NUT WAS INSTALLED IN PLACE OF A GRADE 8 NUT AND FLAT WASHER ON THE YOKE PINCH BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF THE I-SHAFT AND THE STEERING GEAR.
Safety risk
IF THE PINCH BOLT NUT EXPERIENCES THREAD STRIPPING, THE YOKE CONNECTION OF THE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX COULD FAIL AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GRADE 5 PINCH BOLT NUT WITH THE CORRECT GRADE 8 NUT AND WASHER ON ALL VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 17, 2001. 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.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
3
26,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable
1
15,856 mi
Power train: manual transmission
1
38,115 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
94,660 mi
Structure: body
1
26,000 mi
The 2003 model has about half as many 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.