Hearth Record

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar (International Harvester)

Vehicle recall 79V-031. NHTSA received INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER’s report on Jan 19, 1979.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER’s report on Jan 19, 1979. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

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 AND/OR INTERNAL SPLINE TEETH OF COUPLING BECOME STRIPPED.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Steering: steering wheel/handle bar.

What should you do?

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE CLAMP, BOLT AND NUT ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS, MEDIUM; BUSES, TRACTORS.SYSTEM: STEERING; COLUMN COUPLING.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 9,375 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • International Harvester 1800and 1978 and 1979, before the model years listed here
  • International Harvester 1900and 1978 and 1979, before the model years listed here
  • International Harvester 1600and 1978 and 1979, before the model years listed here
  • International Harvester 1700and 1978 and 1979, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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