1998 International Harvester 9000 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Problem: On certain heavy and medium duty trucks and buses equipped with truck hub units manufactured by skf exclusively for use on arvinmeritor's ff98x series non-drive steer axles, the hub unit bearings can wear prematurely.

Risk: Seizure of the bearings can cause wheel separation or wheel end fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace all front axle hubs. Owner notification began on november 12, 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.

Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks, a brass fitting connects the double check valve to the brake relay valve. With certain inputs to the vehicle, the weight of the check valve on the fitting can cause the assembly to resonate. The subject vibration can cause excessive strain levels in the fitting, which could eventually fatigue and fail.

Risk: If the fitting breaks, the rear service brakes will cease to operate without warning, resulting in an extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will install a kit to remount the double check valve with a flexible hose on the majority of vehicles. On a small number of units with clearance issues or traction control, a kit with a new relay valve that has a built-in double check valve will be installed. Owner notification began on april 18, 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.

Problem: On certain medium and heavy duty trucks, a brass fitting connects the double check valve to the brake relay valve. With certain inputs to the vehicle, the weight of the check valve on the fitting can cause the assembly to resonate. The subject vibration can cause excessive strain levels in the fitting, which could eventually fatigue and fail.

Risk: If the fitting breaks, the rear service brakes will cease to operate without warning, resulting in an extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will install a kit to remount the double check valve with a flexible hose on the majority of vehicles. On a small number of units with clearance issues or traction control, a kit with a new relay valve that has a built-in double check valve will be installed. Owner notification began september 11, 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.

Problem: Vehicle description: medium and heavy duty trucks built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu). There have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Risk: This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the abs ecu.

Problem: Vehicle description: tractors built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu). There have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Risk: This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the abs ecu.

Problem: Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks. The brake light switch and the cruise control switch are mounted in such a way as to allow moisture within the air brake system to collect inside the switches. If the moisture in the switches freezes, the brake lights may not function and the cruise control might not disengage when the brake pedal is depressed.

Risk: If the switches freeze, the results could be no brake lights to warn following vehicles and an extended stopping distance if the cruise control does not disengage as expected when the brake pedal is pressed.

Fix: Dealers will re-mount the air manifold and switches to a proven, trouble-free orientation.

Problem: Vehicle description: school and heavy duty trucks built with bendix air abs. The abs sensor wires on rotating parts chafes which can lead to a false signal being sent to the bendix abs electronic control unit (ecu).

Risk: This could cause the air abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the sensor wiring routing and re-route or replace the abs sensors as required.