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.
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.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
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.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW BUZZER SWITCH.
PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
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.