VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE EMERGENCY DOOR HINGES THAT CONSIST OF STEEL PIN FITTINGS AND/OR LACKLUBRICATION CAN BIND FROM RUST AND/OR CORROSION.
Safety risk
THIS COULD CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN OPENING THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
Manufacturer remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. THE OWNERS CAN CONTACT AN AMTRAN DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE IF THEY SO DESIRE.
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Manufacturer
AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP.
Vehicles affected
13,422
Reported to NHTSA
1998-05-15
Owners notified
1998-06-24
Defect description
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.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF THE HEAD LIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic
Manufacturer
AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,179
Reported to NHTSA
1995-05-12
Owners notified
1995-02-03
Defect description
THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM ON THESE BUSES USES TWO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SWITCHES TO OPERATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP. THE BRAKE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAN ACTIVATE WHEN ACTUAL SYSTEM FAILURE HAS NOT OCCURRED.
Safety risk
A FALSE WARNING OF THE BRAKE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO IGNORE A WARNING WHEN AN ACTUAL PROBLEM EXISTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SWITCHES WITH ONE MECHANICAL SWITCH THAT IS ACTIVATED BY BRAKE PEDAL STROKE.
THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED THE CRASH BARRIER TEST. THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED, RESULTING IN FLUID LOSS GREATER THAN ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY".
Safety risk
FUEL SPILLS IN A COLLISION COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIREIF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Manufacturer remedy
MODIFY THE FUEL TANK CAGE TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
No complaints recorded for this model year.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.