Item Affected: WHEELS
Date Announced: 06/22/2017
Description of Recall: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH THE REAR AXLE FIVE-SPOKE CAST STYLE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES, CODES 28A002, 28A003, 28A006, AND 28A007. THESE ASSEMBLIES HAVE MIS-MATCHED WHEEL SPACER AND CLAMPS, WHICH COULD CAUSE HIGH STRESS ON THE WHEEL STUDS.
Conequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POTENTIAL WHEEL STUD FAILURES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Action Need To Fix It: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 17, 1998. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-800-843-5615. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Item Affected: STRUCTURE:BODY
Date Announced: 06/22/2017
Description of Recall: PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Conequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION,THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Action Need To Fix It: REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BEING CAUGHT. REPLACE FOAM PAD AND INSTALL 1" THICK RUBBER SPACER BETWEEN THE BRACE AND THE WALL.
Notes: SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; HANDRAILS AT BUS ENTRY WAYS. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES.NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-501-327-7761. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Item Affected: PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:AIR
Date Announced: 06/22/2017
Description of Recall: THE AIR/SPRING ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE CHAMBERS MANUFACTURED BY MIDLAND (DATE CODE 145B6K) WERE FILLED WITH THE WRONG LUBRICATION. THE IMPROPER LUBRICANT CAUSES THE SEALS WITHIN THE CHAMBER TO FAIL AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF AIR. IF AIR PRESSURE DROPS TO 55 PSI THE SPRING WITHIN THE CHAMBER WILL AUTOMATICALLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Conequence: IF AIR PRESSURE DROPS BELOW 55 PSI AND THE OPERATOR DOES NOT HEED THE LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING AND CONTINUES TO DRIVE, THE PARKING BRAKE WILL APPLY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE LINING TO OVERHEAT AND PREMATURELY WEAR. WHEN THE BUS IS PARKED AND THE BRAKE APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Action Need To Fix It: DEALERS (OR OWNERS) WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBERS FOR THE SUSPECT DATE CODE. IF THE CHAMBER HAS THIS CODE, THE PARKING BRAKE CHAMBER WILL BE REPLACED.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 28, 1996. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-800-843-5615. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Item Affected: VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
Date Announced: 06/22/2017
Description of Recall: THE REAR WINDOW BUZZER DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE BUZZER SWITCH DOES NOT ACTIVATE AND/OR THE WINDOW IS NOT CLOSED WHEN THE LATCH IS NOT IN THE CLOSED AND LOCKED POSITION.
Conequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ALERTED THAT THE REAR WINDOW IS UNLATCHED UNTIL THE WINDOW IS PHYSICALLY OPENED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Action Need To Fix It: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW BUZZER SWITCH.
Notes: SYSTEM: VISUAL; GLASS; FMVSS NO. 217. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. : OWNER NOTIFICATION: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JULY 15, 1996. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-800-843-5615. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Item Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Date Announced: 06/22/2017
Description of Recall: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICES (FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS) ALLOWING THE HEADLAMPS, DURING HIGH BEAM OPERATION, TO IMPOSE TOO MUCH LOAD CAUSING THE PROTECTION DEVICE TO OPEN THE CIRCUIT.
Conequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF THE HEAD LIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Action Need To Fix It: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A FREE REPAIR KIT AND INSTRUCTIONS TO REMEDY THIS CONDITION. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN PERFORM THE REMEDY FOR THEM.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JUNE 24, 1998. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REPAIR KIT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-501-505-2190. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
