1979 International S Series Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1979 International S Series has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 161,972 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 87V005000 1987-01-29 101,072 affected
Defect

ENGINE AND BRAKE BACKUP SYSTEM HAVE COMMON ELECTRICAL POWER SOURCE; ENGINE COULD DIE FROM ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE MAIN POWER FEED FROM THE ALTERNATOR.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT INA CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

SEPARATE ENGINE AND BRAKE BACK UP CIRCUITS.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 84V091000 1984-08-14 16,000 affected
Defect

THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN CABLE LOCATED BETWEEN THE DASH BOARD AND FIREWALL, MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE.

Remedy

ENGINE SHUTDOWN CABLE WILL BE REROUTED AND STRAPPED DOWN AS NECESSARY.

STEERING 80V148000 1980-11-17 19,500 affected
Defect

THE NUTS WHICH FASTEN THE TIE ROD ENDS TO THE STEERING ARMS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE SPECIFIED 150 FT-LB TORQUE. INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED TIE ROD END NUTS COULD LOOSEN, BREAK OFF THE LOCKING COTTER PIN, AND ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO DISENGAGE FROM THE STEERING ARM.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE LOCKING COTTER PIN, TIGHTEN THE NUT TO 150 FT-LBS AND REINSTALL THE COTTER PIN. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TIE ROD ENDS WILL BE TIGHTENED. THIS WILL BE DONE AT NO CHARGE.

STEERING 79V258000 1979-12-14 400 affected
Defect

THE PITMAN ARM PINCH BOLT WHICH HOLDS THE PITMAN ARM TO THE STEERING GEAR OUTPUT SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CLAMP FORCE WILL NOT BE MAINTAINED AND THE LONG LIFE AND HIGH MILEAGE INTEGRITY OF THE STEERING JOINT MAY BE DEGRADED.

Remedy

DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE PINCH BOLT TO SPECIFICATIONS AT NO COST TO OWNER.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 79V211000 1979-09-18 25,000 affected
Defect

AS A RESULT OF SEVERE SHOCK AND VIBRATIONS, THE BRAKE SPIDERS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP CRACKS NEAR THE CAMSHAFT MOUNTING BOSS. THE CRACK PROPAGATES ACROSS THE SPIDER UNTIL THE CAMSHAFT BOSS IS COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE SPIDER. WHEN THE CAMSHAFT BOSS HAS COMPLETELY SEVERED, THE S-CAM,…

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE SPIDERS ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES USED IN SNOW PLOW DUMP AND REFUSE HAULING APPLICATIONS. THIS WILL BE DONE AT NO CHARGE.

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1979 International S Series as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.