Bus seats have sharp welds in center of seats causing students legs to be cut.
The worst 1997 Navistar 3800 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Seats2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Seats2
Recalls 5
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: school bus. An air brake line controlling the rear brakes may be too close to the exhaust pipe and could rupture at any time without warning.
- Risk
- Exhaust pipe heat can melt or cause premature failure of this air line if the air line is routed too close to the exhaust pipe.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a new elbow fitting and reroute the air line. The air line will also be inspected and replaced if found to be damaged from the exhaust pipe.
Recall number 99V331000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: rod: relay: connecting
- What is wrong
- School, transit, or heavy duty vehicles equipped with spicer 6,000 or 8,000 lb. Front steer axles. The tie rod end can pull outboard and separate from the tie rod tube due to improper thread engagement between the male tie rod end and the female tube.
- Risk
- Separation of the tie rod end could result in loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the complete tie rod assembly.
Recall number 99V033001 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks equipped with t444e diesel engines. A fuel leak can occur because of overcrimping of the hose end fittings on the hose from the regulator to the left head and the hose from the fuel transfer pump to the regulator.
- Risk
- Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the oil hose and place an additional convoluted loom around the existing oil hose, or replace the hose assembly.
Recall number 98V291000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: buses and heavy truck chassis equipped with t444e engines. The accelerator pedal rod material is excessively brittle and can break during a full throttle application.
- Risk
- The unexpected breakage can result in the inability to accelerate the vehicle properly increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the electronic accelerator pedal rods with new rods.
Recall number 97V143001 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: buses and heavy truck chassis equipped with cummins n-14, caterpillar, and detroit diesel electronic engines. The accelerator pedal rod material is excessively brittle and can break during a full throttle application.
- Risk
- The unexpected breakage can result in the inability to accelerate the vehicle properly increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the electronic accelerator pedal rods with new rods.
Recall number 97V143002 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 1997 Navistar 3800
Defect investigations
Underhood fires
Alleged underhood fires due to electrical or fuel system malfunction
PE98004
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Navistar 3800 2
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
What 1997 Navistar 3800 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
School bus seats have sharp weld in center of seat causing student to be cut on the legs.
Compare the 1997 Navistar 3800
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Questions about the 1997 Navistar 3800
Is the 1997 Navistar 3800 reliable?
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 1997 Navistar 3800, 2.0 times a typical 3800 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Navistar 3800?
Seats, with 2 complaints.
How many recalls does the 1997 Navistar 3800 have?
5 recalls, covering service brakes, air, steering and engine and engine cooling.
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