Exterior lighting: brake lights
- Component
- Exterior lighting: brake lights
- Manufacturer
- U.S. BUS CORPORATION
- Vehicles affected
- 137
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2007-10-22
- Owners notified
- 2007-10-17
Defect description
CERTAIN MY 2007 US BUS STURDIBUS SCHOOL OR ACTIVITY BUSES SINGLE AND DUAL REAR WHEEL MODELS BUILT ON THE GMT 610 CHEVROLET EXPRESS CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2006, AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE STOP LAMPS WILL ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, THE STOP LAMPS ARE NOT LONGER ILLUMINATED BUT THE REAR BRAKES MAY STILL BE APPLIED. THE BRAKE MAY RELEASE AFTER A FEW SECONDS OR AFTER THE NEXT FIRM BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION.
Safety risk
IF THE REAR BRAKES ARE STILL APPLIED AFTER RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A SUBSTANTIAL DRAG WHEN DRIVING AND MAY NEED TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER THAN USUAL TO CONTINUE VEHICLE MOVEMENT. A VEHICLE DRIVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
GENERAL MOTORS IS WORKING WITH US BUS TO NOTIFY ITS OWNERS. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9643 OR US BUS AT 574-855-2019.