We've had two engine failures with this truck. The first occurred at 121,000 miles when an o-ring on a cylinder sleeve failed letting coolant fill the crankcase and requiring a complete engine overhaul that cost us over $6,000 dollars. The truck was more than 3 years old so we had to pay for the repairs. After putting only 40,000 miles on the rebuilt engine it has thrown a rod out the side of the block completely ruining the engine. It will have to be replaced at an estimated cost of $16,000. We have contacted navistar because the service technician said both failures were caused by poor workmanship, defective materials, or faulty design. Navistar has refused to stand behind their product.
The worst 2003 International 4400 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes3
- Engine1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes3
- Engine1
Recalls 4
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 03V317000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 03V024000 · Recall details
Parking brake: conventional
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 02V260000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 02V095000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 International 4400 87
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This article provides guidance to dealership personnel, Technical Services personnel, Dealer Service...
- This tool is designed to compare Diamond Logic feature data across multiple vehicle configuration files
- Engine replacements for all International engines will need to follow this procedure.
- This document will guide the user through a step-by-step procedure for detecting water leaks in vehicle...
- This document will guide the user through understanding Prop Shaft Codes and understanding the variations...
- In some geographic areas, ambient temperatures reaching below 15°F (-10 °C), including high levels of...
- Title: Service Portal iKNow Feedback Case Types Applies To: All
- Title: Driveline Information Center and Troubleshooting Procedures Applies To: All Vehicles
- Title: A/C Refrigerant and Oil Capacities Applies To: All current models
- Title: Fan belt replacement guidelines for frayed edges Applies To: All Models
What 2003 International 4400 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
It was raining brakes failed I rearended a car on 8-16-04 an international dealer found faults in the ABS and nothing was done to repair they found a valve relay shorted to ground output pin shorted to ground nothing was done to repair. *ak reference no 10097158 this truck my company voulanteerly put out service because it is not repaired
The consumer stated that he has been having problems with his brakes. He stated that when it is raining the brakes failed. He also stated that once he went straight through a stop sign. The consumer stated that this truck with these faulty brakes has caused him to have a accident. He says he took the truck to the dealer and was told all they could find is when it rains the relay valve gets wet, so they think it is a short somewhere.
Wet weather, brakes failed and there was an accident. Nothing was done by manufacturer corky miller said if theres an accident than we'll do an investagation on the brakes.
Compare the 2003 International 4400
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Questions about the 2003 International 4400
Is the 2003 International 4400 reliable?
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2003 International 4400, 4.0 times a typical 4400 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 International 4400?
Brakes, with 3 complaints. Next is engine (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 International 4400 have?
4 recalls, covering service brakes, air, service brakes, hydraulic and parking brake.
Was there a recall on the 2003 International 4400 brakes?
Yes, 3 recalls: 03V317000, 03V024000, 02V260000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
VIN decoder
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