International Recall Expands: Fire Risk Found

International Recall Expands After Earlier Fix

International Motors is recalling 15,628 trucks because of a fire risk tied to a battery cable.

The recall covers certain MV and HV trucks. It also replaces and expands an earlier safety recall issued in 2025.

The key point for drivers and fleets is simple. Some trucks that received the first recall repair will need to return for a new fix.

International changed the repair plan after more inspections. The company found that the earlier remedy did not fully solve the problem in every affected truck.

The new campaign is listed as NHTSA Recall 26V459. International’s recall number is 26510.

International Battery Cable May Short Circuit

The problem involves a positive battery interconnect cable.

In some trucks, the cable may contact an auxiliary stud or the battery hold-down bracket. This can happen because of small changes in how parts were built or installed.

A short circuit may occur if the cable touches those parts.

The short can create too much heat. That heat may lead to a fire. It may also raise the risk of property damage or injury.

International estimates that all 15,628 trucks in the recall group contain the defect condition. That does not mean every truck will catch fire. It means each truck has the setup that may allow the problem to happen.

International Recall Covers MV and HV Trucks

The recall covers certain trucks built from September 2020 through June 2026.

Affected models include:

• 2021 and 2023-2027 MV trucks
• 2026-2027 HV trucks

The trucks must also have certain 25-inch battery boxes. They must have specific parts or feature codes tied to the defect.

Most of the recalled vehicles are MV trucks.

The largest group includes 4,955 model-year 2024 MV trucks. Another 4,477 are model-year 2025 MV trucks. The recall also covers 2,671 model-year 2026 MV trucks.

Only a small share of the recall involves HV trucks.

As a result, the recall may have the greatest effect on medium-duty and vocational fleets. International MV trucks are often used for delivery work, utility service, towing, construction, city work, and regional freight.

Earlier International Recall Did Not Cover Full Risk

International first announced a related recall in August 2025.

That earlier campaign was NHTSA Recall 25V534. It was based in part on two trucks involved in fires.

International also inspected 187 trucks in June 2025. At that time, inspectors found no contact between the battery terminal and the hold-down bracket.

However, the review did not end there.

In May 2026, International inspected two more trucks involved in fires.

One truck was built before the date range covered by the first recall. The other was built after that range.

Inspectors found signs that the battery cable terminals had touched the hold-down bracket in both trucks.

Those findings showed that the first recall group was too narrow. More trucks had the same risky setup.

International Plant Audit Raised More Concerns

International carried out a process audit at its Escobedo Assembly Plant in June 2026.

During that audit, the company found another concern. In some trucks, battery cable terminals were touching windlace added during the first recall repair.

The company then placed 168 trucks under a delivery stop. The company held those trucks while it studied the problem.

Engineers then looked for a better way to hold the cable in place.

International began using a saddle clamp. The clamp is meant to keep the cable from moving toward the battery hold-down.

The new setup was added at plants in Escobedo and San Antonio.

By early July, International decided that the new design would do a better job of keeping the cable away from the bracket and windlace. The company also found that the design should keep working after future service work.

That decision led International to include trucks repaired under the first recall in the new campaign.

Previously Repaired Trucks Need a New Fix

The earlier recall will now be stopped and replaced.

Trucks that did not get the old repair will be moved into the new campaign. More importantly, trucks that already received the old repair will need the new remedy.

NHTSA confirmed that Recall 26V459 replaces and expands Recall 25V534.

This point matters for drivers, owners, and fleet shops.

A maintenance record may show that the first recall was completed. That record does not mean the truck is cleared under the new International campaign.

Fleets may need to review both VIN records and past repair records. A truck may need another dealer visit even if it was already marked as repaired.

International Dealers Will Add Cable Supports

International dealers will install plastic saddles on the positive battery cables.

Some trucks may need more work. Dealers may also add windlace and a J-bolt between the batteries.

After the parts are installed, technicians will check the space around the battery terminal. The repair calls for at least 3 millimeters of clearance after the parts are tightened.

The work will be done at no cost to owners.

The International recall report says repair steps and owner letters will be sent when parts are ready.

VINs are expected to become searchable on September 7, 2026.

Owner letters are set to begin going out on September 14, 2026. The recall will be carried out in phases.

What the International Recall Means for Drivers

The recall may lead to extra shop time for some drivers.

Company drivers may lose access to their assigned truck while the repair is made. Fleets may need to move drivers into spare units. That may affect routes or work plans.

Owner-operators may face a larger problem. A single truck may be their only source of income. Even a short dealer visit can lead to lost work or missed loads.

Drivers should not assume that the first International recall repair solved the issue. The new campaign has a new recall number. It also uses a different repair method.

The recall report lists “Do Not Drive” and “Park Outside” under the consumer advisory section.

However, the provided documents do not explain whether those steps apply to every recalled truck. They may apply only to some trucks or certain conditions.

Drivers and fleets may need to contact International or a dealer for instructions tied to a specific VIN.

International customer service can be reached at 1-800-448-7825.

Fleets May Face Extra Recordkeeping

Fleet shops may have more work than a normal recall creates.

Maintenance teams may need to find every International truck that falls under the new campaign. They may also need to locate trucks repaired under Recall 25V534.

Those trucks may already be listed as complete in fleet records. That status will need to be checked again.

Safety teams may also need to give drivers new instructions. Dispatchers may need to plan around dealer visits. Large fleets may be able to rotate trucks. Smaller carriers may have fewer choices.

Used-truck dealers and leasing firms may also need to check their stock. NHTSA noted that new vehicles with a known safety defect cannot be sold or delivered until the recall repair is complete.

Smaller PACCAR Brake Re3call Is Complete

A separate PACCAR recall covers eight tractors.

The vehicles include certain 2026-2027 Peterbilt 579 tractors and 2027 Kenworth T680 tractors.

The issue involved a trailer air connection quick-release valve. The valve may have been installed the wrong way.

If the valve did not work as designed, the trailer could become less stable when the driver applied the brakes.

PACCAR inspected the eight tractors. The valves were reinstalled where needed.

All eight trucks have been repaired. No owner letters are required.

The PACCAR recall has limited impact because the repairs are already complete.

The International recall has a much wider reach. Thousands of trucks are involved. Some trucks that already received one repair must now return for another fix.