Skip to content

1979 International Harvester 1800 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1979 International Harvester 1800. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1979 International Harvester 1800

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Windshield (visibility)

    NHTSA 79V156000 Reported 3,000 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    The opening for the windshield in the cab may be too large to permit proper retention or sealing of the windshield.

    Remedy: Dealer will install upper and lower metal retaining brackets to hold windshield in position, without charge to owner.

  2. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V095000 Reported 667 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    Defective bolts may have been used to mount the brake master cylinder to the cab firewall, resulting in bolt fracture. Fracture of all the master cylinder mounting bolts would allow separation of the master cylinder from its mounting.

    Remedy: Defective mounting bolts will be replaced without charge to owner.

  3. Master cylinder (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V079000 Reported 113 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    Incorrect bolts may have been used to mount the master cylinder to the brake booster unit. The bolts could break and allow separation of the master cylinder from its mounting.

    Remedy: Vehicles will be inspected and any incorrect bolts will be replaced without charge to owner.

  4. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 79V031000 Reported 9,375 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    The defect is insecure clamping of the steering column coupling to the steering gear input shaft due to clamp failure. The clamp was improperly heat-treated and may be deformed or fractured. Insecure clamping can cause wear and progressive looseness, which if not detected or not promptly repaired could progress until serrations of shaft…

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the clamp, bolt and nut on all affected vehicles at no cost to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1979 International Harvester 1800. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare International Harvester 1800 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every International Harvester 1800 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1970 International Harvester 180010
1971 International Harvester 180010
1974 International Harvester 180010
1977 International Harvester 180010
1978 International Harvester 180060
1979 International Harvester 180040

Checking a specific 1979 International Harvester 1800

How do I know if my 1979 International Harvester 1800 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1979 International Harvester 1800; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised International Harvester dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 79V031000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other International Harvester models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.