2003 INTERNATIONAL 4300 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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

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