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1983 International Harvester S1700 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1983 International Harvester S1700. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

6 safety recalls for the 1983 International Harvester S1700

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

  1. Idler and attachment (steering)

    NHTSA 86V026000 Reported 120,292 vehicles potentially affected NAVISTAR INTL CORP.

    Steering arm may crack after repeated full lock turns due to the lack of end-of-travel relief features. Consequence of defect: loss of steering control would be experienced if cracks expand to complete fracture of the arm, and a crash could occur without prior warning.

    Remedy: Replace steering arm with a redesigned strengthened arm.

  2. Arm (steering)

    NHTSA 85V037000 Reported 31,746 vehicles potentially affected NAVISTAR INTL CORP.

    The steering arm may crack after repeated full-lock turns. Consequence of defect: if cracks progress to complete fracture of the arm, steering control would be lost and a vehicle accident could occur.

    Remedy: Replace steering arm with redesigned strengthened arm.

  3. Hose, piping, and connections (steering)

    NHTSA 83V127000 Reported 1,387 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    Within the steering system, high operating temperatures may cause eventual deterioration of the hose which returns power steering fluid to the pump. The hose may rupture and power steering assist will be lost.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the power steering hose and install a heat shield between the engine and hose at no charge.

  4. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 83V075000 Reported 1,318 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    The nuts that mount the tie rod ends to the steering arms may not have been securely fastened; the nuts could loosen and eventually fall off. Also, tie rod tubes on some axle assemblies may be too short. Either condition could lead to a separation of the tie rod from the steering arm.

    Remedy: Upon inspection, nuts will be tightened to meet specifications and any undersized tie rod tubes will be replaced.

  5. Drum (service brakes)

    NHTSA 83V029000 Reported 1,900 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    The 3/4 inch diameter fasteners which join the rear axle brake drum to the wheels were not tightened properly. These fasteners may loosen during vehicle operation, causing damage to the drum and brakes of the wheel.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and retighten fasteners to specified level and replace damaged components, if necessary.

  6. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 83V001000 Reported 3,500 vehicles potentially affected INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER

    Under certain circumstances, the output shaft of the steering gear may develop cracks at a location between the gear and the pitman arm mounting. The suspect component is found on steering gears with the code 05057. Continued operation may result in fracture and disconnection of the steering linkage.

    Remedy: The dealer will remove original output shaft from steering gear and replace it with a new case-hardened shaft free of charge.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1983 International Harvester S1700. 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 S1700 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every International Harvester S1700 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 International Harvester S170010
1978 International Harvester S170030
1979 International Harvester S170040
1980 International Harvester S170080
1981 International Harvester S170070
1982 International Harvester S170060
1983 International Harvester S170060
1984 International Harvester S170030
1985 International Harvester S170020

Checking a specific 1983 International Harvester S1700

How do I know if my 1983 International Harvester S1700 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1983 International Harvester S1700; 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 83V001000).

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.