The 1995 International 3800 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,867 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC96V1740001996-09-13580 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS WIRING AND, IF NECESSARY, PROPERLY CONNECT.
WHEELS96V0410001996-03-01206 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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…
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, REDESIGNED HUBS ON THESE VEHICLES.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING94V1440001994-08-02373 affected
Defect
FOUR COMPRESSION BACKPLATE RETAINING FASTENERS ON THE TURBO-CHARGER WERE TORQUED ONLY HAND TIGHT. THIS ALLOWS THE FASTENERS TO LOOSEN, AND CAUSES OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COMPRESSOR AIR SIDE OF THE TURBO-CHARGER WHICH, WHEN COUPLED WITH THE HEAT PRECIPITATED BY THE COMPRESSOR AND THE MIXING ACTION OF THE COMPRESSOR…
Consequence
WHEN THIS OCCURS, ENGINE RUN-ON AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF OPERATOR CONTROL VIA THE NORMAL THROTTLE MECHANISM CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE THE SUSPECT TURBO-CHARGER WITH A NEW TURBO-CHARGER.
THESE BUSES WERE BUILT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 3/4 INCH THICK PLYWOOD FLOOR AND EXTRA THICK FLOOR MATS FOR INCREASED INSULATION DURING COLD WEATHER. THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHEN DEPRESSED, CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE HEAD OF A BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION COVER TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE THROTTLE MAY…
Consequence
THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE 1/2 INCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
6
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“We found 4 buses with cracked frames approx. 6 inches back from the shock hanger on both sides in the front. They were 95 model thomas buses on international frames, we took them out of service and sent to the dealer for repairs. I was told they were aware of the problem that they had a kit to…”
“I am a medium sized school bus fleet. We found the above vehicle has both front frame rails cracked. This defect was found during a routine pm inspection. We immediately inspected 20 other school buses of the same vintage in our fleet. We found 3 additional buses vin# [xxx], [xxx], [xxx], each bus…”
“Fan clutch failed causing bus to overheat while driving. Nlm”
“Fan clutch failed causing bus to overheat while driving. Nlm”
“Fan clutch failed causing bus to overheat while driving. Nlm”
“Fan clutch failed causing bus to overheat while driving. Nlm”
“Fan clutch failed causing bus to overheat while driving. Nlm”
“Fan clutch failed causing bus to overheat while driving. Nlm”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 International 3800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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