Beware before buying a 2004 International 4400 DT466

Charles Watson · Oct 30, 2019

ratwell71 said: ↑

This is an actual complaint letter filed with International Corporation. These trucks have been recalled for tires, wiring issues, premature codes, etc. Check it out for yourself at Keeping You Safe | Safercar | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The public has a right to know that if you buy this vehicle there is a chance that it will leave you stranded as well as possibly killed on our highways. There have been recalls because of the actual cab coming off of the chasis. Can you believe this? This vehicle will leave you possibly stranded and you will be left holding a hefty bill. This premature O-ring mishap was admitted by the shop foreman and this is why International Corp. agreed to pay for parts, but we still were out of pocket thousands of dollars. Anyone that knows "diesel engines" knows that an overhaul should not have happened on a vehicle that has never shown codes nor overheated at the low mileage of 219,987.

Looking for potential owner/operators that want to get together for a class action law suit. Please contact me via the email above. Recalling a vehicle to correct a mileage issue because of faulty software should not cost the owner/operator. After upgrading my software my mileage changed significantly. I did not buy a vehicle that had 11 miles as one of their reps stated today, but I possibly bought a vehicle with approximatedly a 1000 miles. Noone knows. This guessing on their part cost me because we all know that commercial vehicles prices are based on several factors, one being amount of miles on the engine. So I overpaid! Noone can answer why this engine showed 11 miles and 2000 plus hours of operation. They say it was a new engine. I say, who knows?

Catepillar recalled their 3406 engines because of O-ring failures and paid their customer's bills when this occurred. They also use three rings. Hummmmmm. I have always had luck with Cat's and Cummins, but took a chance on International because of my research and their advertisements. My opinion, stick with a product that stands behind their name.

Dear Customer Service Engineer:

On February 28, 2006, I had my 2004 International 4400 (Vin # 1HTMKAAN24H592264) towed to Westrux International, located in Santa Fe Springs, CA, to be repaired. The vehicle had water coming out of the blow by tube (crankcase ventilation). This was noticed after driving the vehicle a mile down the road after stopping for a coffee. I immediately stopped the engine and called a tow truck. After a diagnosis to what was wrong with my truck, I was told that I would get help from International Corporation because of a premature O-ring failure on cylinder number 4. My truck has never overheated nor has ever been under maximum load capacity. In fact, my truck is registered for 26,000 pounds even though the manufacturer says that it can handle up to 33,000 pounds. I have a very clean truck, and I have taken extreme care of this vehicle. Westrux deemed it necessary to overhaul my engine despite my engine only has 219, 987 on it. This was because when the O-ring failed it emptied my radiator's antifreeze fluid into the crankcase. This O-ring failure was not due to misuse of equipment because of overheating, cryogenics, chemical degradation, cavitations, etc. The head mechanic, Hector, assured me that he was convinced that this was a manufacturer defect. I feel very strongly that I should not have been out of any money seeing that I bought this truck brand new, and I had no control over manufacturing this engine. I understand that Quality Control has done numerous tests on different types of O-rings under different conditions because of the 2004 Federal Emissions Requirements and the need to be in compliance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I also know that International understands that it needs to act not only socially responsible for the products that it creates, but also ethically and timely when a complaint is made. I made this purchase at Alumibunk in Woodhaven, MI in February of 2004. The truck when purchased displayed only 11 miles, but had over 2000 hours of operation registered on the display. When questioned on whether this engine was used for government testing or International testing we were told that this was a brand new engine and it had never been tested just ran on a Dyno.

Unfortunately, your product has not performed well because this engine should have never failed this soon. Also, I feel that when International recalled my truck because of a software issue that the warranty should have restarted or I should have been extended an additional warranty because running the wrong software on this engine could have precipitated or caused the problem at hand. When the service department flashed my ECM with the correct software version, my mileage on my truck nearly doubled which means that when I purchased the vehicle it did not have 11 miles on it as well as the vehicle's price was inflated because of inaccurate odometer reading. This was unethical and if I would have known, the engine had more miles on it than what was displayed I might have not purchased this vehicle. The fact that your technicians uploaded the wrong software version when I purchased this vehicle should be enough to hold International accountable. Running the wrong software for this engine could have done more damage than just an O-ring. The engine was not operating under the specs designed by the engineers. The software operates many facets of the engine's operation, any of which could have contributed to the problem for which I am requesting retribution.

Therefore, to resolve the problem, I would appreciate your reimbursement for all associated costs. This includes the following: tow bill, hotel stays, car rental, labor cost, and lost time. I will send copies (copies, not originals) of my records (receipts, warranties, cancelled checks, contracts, model and serial numbers, and any other documents) upon request.

I look forward to your reply and a resolution to my problem. I will wait 48 hours before seeking third-party assistance. Please contact me at the above address or by phone. If I do not get a satisfactory resolution I will have no other recourse but to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), my state's attorney general, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, etc. I feel I have given International Corporation every opportunity to make this situation right, but at this point I am getting annoyed by the shuffling of responsibility. I hope that you will work with me on this matter. International advertises that the DT466 engine is reliable, durable, low downtime, and minimal maintenance. I have not had the opportunity to enjoy any of these advantages. I, as a dissatisfied customer, was mislead not only by the research that I did prior to the purchase of the vehicle, but also by the false odometer reading. Altering the odometer is covered under Article 49 U.S.C. 32710 despite the fact that commercial dealers are allowed to stamp exempt on the title because the vehicle is over 16,000 pounds. When the vehicle's mileage is altered by the manufacturer this voids the original contract. The customer has a right to know the actual mileage at the time of purchase not a year later when there is a recall and possibly damage done to the engine because of negligence on behalf of the manufacturer.

Sincerely,

Mary Atwell
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Good luck I bought a used 4900 with the dt466 in it found out it had had 2 engines in it I'm on my 3rd engine and come to find out it is the radiator at fault the factory radiator is closed off on the bottom which that's where it gets its water from the cool water so it couldn't cool off and just give overheating so now that's two engines at somebody had put in before me and that's a start engine blowed up I've had it shots for in for in since I've had it and I'm I got to put another one in it they're not going to do nothing for me because I'm the second owner biserica okay that radiator to go in that truck when it's going down the assembly line they should be responsible but my name is Charles Watson Knoxville Tennessee I live it 637 South gallaher view 37919 Knoxville Tennessee if anybody can help me with this just send me a letter I'll be grateful because so $20,000 in engines how can I put this next one in

Socal Xpress · Oct 31, 2019

So this orginal post was started in 2006. Its 2019. Good luck with getting a letter.

Jerryragon · Oct 16, 2022

I'm starting to have a bad opinion of international trucks after reading all the bad things that happen with them. I always thought international had a bullet proof engine. Doesn't seem like that anymore...

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