RecallMyCar

1979 International Harvester S Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1979 International Harvester S Series. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

5 safety recalls for the 1979 International Harvester S Series

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

  1. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

    NHTSA 87V005000 Reported 101,072 vehicles potentially affected NAVISTAR INTL CORP.

    Engine and brake backup system have common electrical power source; engine could die from electrical failure of the main power feed from the alternator.

    Remedy: Separate engine and brake back up circuits.

  2. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 84V091000 Reported 16,000 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    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.

  3. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 80V148000 Reported 19,500 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    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.

  4. Linkages (steering)

    NHTSA 79V258000 Reported 400 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    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.

  5. Drum (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V211000 Reported 25,000 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    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, s-cam bracket, air…

    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.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1979 International Harvester S Series. 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 S Series model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1975 International Harvester S Series20
1976 International Harvester S Series20
1977 International Harvester S Series40
1978 International Harvester S Series50
1979 International Harvester S Series50
1980 International Harvester S Series30
1981 International Harvester S Series20
1982 International Harvester S Series30
1983 International Harvester S Series30
1984 International Harvester S Series20
1985 International Harvester S Series30
1986 International Harvester S Series40
1987 International Harvester S Series30

Checking a specific 1979 International Harvester S Series

How do I know if my 1979 International Harvester S Series 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1979 International Harvester S Series; 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 79V211000).

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.