1996 International Harvester 3800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 3800 years
- Not enough data 6th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 International Harvester 3800. That ranks 6th out of 7 3800 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%). There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 International Harvester 3800 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 50% | 230,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 International Harvester 3800 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: 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.
Risk: Should the accelerator pedal contact the floor, the pedal could get caught and not return to the idle position increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: 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.
Risk: Should the anti-lock braking system (abs) wiring be crossed, it would result in a significant degradation in vehicle stopping distance. A signal would be sent to the wrong brake chamber when a brake imbalance is detected. This condition increases the risk of a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the abs wiring and, if necessary, properly connect.
Wheels:hubcap/cover
Problem: 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.
Risk: Should sufficient cracks occur, the mounting flange portion of the hub along with the wheel could separate from the vehicle without warning. Should this occur while the vehicle is driven, the driver could lose control of the vehicle and/or the separated wheel and hub could strike another vehicle, pedestrian or property.
Fix: Dealers will install new, redesigned hubs on these vehicles.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle was manufactured in a way where it does not comply with 49 cfr 393.83(d) even though the manufacturer certified the vehicle complied with all applicable federal laws at the time the vehicle was built. The oem configuration of the exhaust system allows school age children to inhale…
Wire shorted out causing electrical failures.
Other International Harvester 3800 years
See all International Harvester 3800 problems by year, every International Harvester model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar International Harvester models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 International Harvester 3800?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, structure problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1996 International Harvester 3800?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 International Harvester 3800 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 3800 model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.