Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1997 International Harvester 4900

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 2 times.

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Rear96V240000
Filed Nov 27, 1996233 vehiclesInternational Truck And Engine

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED BY DANA SPICER. CERTAIN REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED WHICH COULD ALLOW PINION BREAKAGE AT THE PINION THREADS.

Risk. CRACKS CAN INITIATE AND RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE THREADED END OF THE PINION RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE YOKE AND DRIVE LINE FROM THE REAR AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE CARRIER/PINION ASSEMBLY.

Suspension › Rear96V233002
Filed Nov 22, 19961,133 vehiclesInternational Truck And Engine

Defect. THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSINGS CONSIST OF A PLATE STEEL CENTER SECTION AND TWO FORGED SPINDLES, ONE OF WHICH IS WELDED TO EACH END OF THE CENTER SECTION. EACH SPINDLE CONTAINS A KEYWAY SLOT IN WHICH THE LOCKING TAB FOR THE WHEEL BEARING NUT LOCKING MECHANISM IS INSERTED. THE LENGTH OF THE KEYWAY SLOT MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE TAB CAUSING THE TAB TO BE DEFORMED OR DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION.

Risk. THIS LOCKING TAB PREVENTS THE WHEEL BEARING NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS TAB IS DEFORMED, THE NUT CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE AXLE HOUSING NUTS WITH A CONVENTIONAL WHEEL NUT HARDWARE SYSTEM.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20010300Routine
200014300Routine
19994300Routine
19980200Routine
1997 — this page0200Routine
19951210Routine
19940100Routine
19931200Routine
19920200Routine
19911210Routine

Compare every 4900 year →

Other International Harvester models

All International Harvester models →
4700 403800 40School Bus 27Conventional 109400 8International Harvester 6International 69300 69200 6Amtran Buses 3

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 27, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.