The defect
CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WIPER SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WITH ALL ACCESSORIES OFF, INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND THE WASH FUNCTION IS ACTIVATED. WASHER FLUID MAY SQUIRT BRIEFLY OR NOT AT ALL ONTO THE WINDSHIELD.
The risk
THE WIPERS CYCLE NORMALLY, BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF WASHER FLUID THE WINDSHIELD WILL NOT BE ADEQUATELY CLEANED, WHICH COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL INCORRECT WINDSHIELD WASHER WIPER SWITCHES THAT FAIL TO MEET A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| International 5000I | 2003 |
| International 9000I | 2003 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| International 5000I | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| International 9000I | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
Other visibility recalls in 2003
19 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the visibility; INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION filed 86 campaigns in all.
| 03V497000 23 Dec 2003 | SETRA OF NORTH AMERICA |
| 03V461000 11 Nov 2003 | LIBERTY BUS INCORPORATED |
| 03V429000 3 Nov 2003 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V223000 16 Jun 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V222000 12 Jun 2003 | FORETRAVEL, INC. |
| 03V210000 2 Jun 2003 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 03V191000 5 May 2003 | INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY |
| 03V160000 29 Apr 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003