2003 International 4300

Defect. 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.

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.

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.

Defect. CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND AN AIR POWERED PARKING BRAKE (BRAKE CODE 04GAS) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE MONITOR MODULE WAS NOT INSTALLED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES.

Risk. WITHOUT THE BRAKE MONITOR MODULE, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON DURING THE INITIAL KEY-ON CYCLE AND WILL NOT COME ON TO WARN THE OPERATOR IF THERE IS A LOSS OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLOW, OR IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BOOSTER MOTOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE MONITOR MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEGAN DURING FEBRUARY 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.

Defect. 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.

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.

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.

Defect. 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.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INTERNATIONAL 4300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SIGN. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL*THE COMPANY OWNS A 2003 INTERNATIONAL 4300. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A TIRE MECHANIC TO ARRIVE WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON JUNE 10, 2008 IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE NO PHOTOS OR FIRE REPORT AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS SUGGESTED TO BE ELECTRICAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE FIRE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 345,000.

REAR HYD. BRAKE ROTOR BROKE FROM HUB UNDER ROUTINE SERVICE. THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY TO ANOTHER TRUCK IN OUR FLEET. REPAIR SHOP REPORTS THEY HAVE SEEN SIX OTHER INTERNATIONAL 4300'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS OF REPAIR SHOPS IN THIS AREA, SAFE TO SAY THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF 4300'S SHEDDING ROTORS. OBVIOUSLY THIS CAUSES A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING TO THE AFFECTED WHEEL(S). ADDITIONALLY, THIS CAUSES AN ABS FAULT CONDITION WHICH DISABLES THE EXHAUST BRAKE AND ALLOWS THE REMAINING BRAKING WHEELS TO LOCK CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. AS OUR MECHANIC OBSERVED, THESE TRUCKS ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY IF THESE BRAKES AND SOFTWARE ARE NOT REDESIGNED. THE ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS, WHEEL SPEED SENSORS AND HARDWARE ON THE REAR AXLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THERE WAS HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE REAR AXLE. WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEEDS FRONT/REAR END WONDERED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS RAINING. ACCORDING TO A MECHANIC AT MAUDLIN, IF MORE THAN ONE SENSOR GOES OUT THE WHOLE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK CAUSING IT TO REVERT TO MANUAL BRAKES. THIS OCCURED ON JULY 28TH, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP DURING A RAIN STORM RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN RAINING.*AK

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS RAINING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR OUTSIDE DUAL TIRE BLEW OUT. WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHECK THE PRESSURE OF THE OUTSIDE TIRE AND IT WAS ALRIGHT. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE PRESSURE OF THE INSIDE PASSENGER TIRE THE EXTENDER VALVE FELL OFF IN THE CONSUMERS HAND AND THE AIR ESCAPED FROM THE TIRE. IT APPEARED THAT THE EXTENDER VALVE HAD SHEARED OFF. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE FLAT TIRE AND NOTICED THAT THE EXTENDER VALVE ON THAT TIRE HAD ALSO SHEARED OFF THUS CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. THE TIRE TECH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE EXTENDER VALVES WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BRACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK CAUSED THE OUTSIDE DUAL TIRE TO BLOW OUT WHEN THE INSIDE TIRE WENT FLAT (INSIDE GOOD YEAR TIRE SIZE 265-70R 19.5 UNISTEEL G124). *AK * CB *NLM