Amtran Fe recalls

What is wrong

Certain 1998, 2000-2005 my ce, fe, and re school buses built with one or more ce white 30-inch child restraint seats and manufactured between march 25, 1998 and august 24, 2004. The seat cushion retention may not retain the seat in all circumstances.

Risk

In the event of a sudden stop, the seat cushion may tip forward and may become unattached causing the passenger to slide off the seat and/or be trapped by the seat cushion. This action could possibly result in personal injury or death.

Remedy

Ic corp will notify its customers and will repair the cushion by adding a clip to the cushion tying it to the seat frame. The recall began on october 5, 2004. 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 ic compliance department at 1‑800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 04V498000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain fe school and commercial buses built with ce white driver seats with a pedestal style mount and manufactured between january 10, 1992 through february 24, 2004. These pedestals can develop cracks rendering the seat unstable.

Risk

In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat could separate from the base, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.

Remedy

Ic will notify its customers and repair the seat by replacing the upper portion of the assembly with a more robust design. The recall began june 3, 2005. 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 ic compliance department at 1‑800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 04V492000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain my 2001-2005 amtran/ic corporation ce, fe, and re school buses equipped with sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies p/n 8625-13. The sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly may be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.

Risk

In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.

Remedy

Sure-lok will notify ic's customers and repair the buses on ic's behalf at no cost to the customer. The recall began august 16, 2004. 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 sure-lok at 1‑908‑231‑1804.

Recall number 04V469000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain "special needs" school buses equipped with sur-loc "l" wheelchair tracks, the lift mounting bolts could corrode if moisture occurs in the treated plywood floor.

Risk

This could reduce the function of the track or the strength of the lift mounting bolts resulting in personal injury to the occupants.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the sur-loc "l" tracks with protected tracks and mounting hardware. Also, lift floor-mounting bolts will be replaced. Owner notification is expected to begin march 19, 2004. 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 ic at 1‑800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 04V097000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain commercial buses equipped with t-slide oval windows fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "bus emergency exits and window retention and release." incorrect side emergency exit windows were installed.

Risk

Passengers could be prevented from exiting the bus, which could result in personal injury or death.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the windows. Owner notification began december 18, 2003. 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.

Recall number 04V012000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain fe model school buses manufactured from october 14, 1991, and march 4, 2003. A gap between the modesty panel and the wheel well located behind the driver's seat can be created if the panel is bent out of position. Under the panel, the edges are sharp and jagged.

Risk

Should someone reach under the panel, they could cut thier hands, fingers, or toes on the jagged edges.

Remedy

Ic will notify its customers and repair the panel free of charge. Owner notification is expected to begin january 20, 2004. 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 ic corporation compliance department toll-free at 1‑800‑843‑5615. Customers can locate the nearest dealer by calling 1‑800‑993‑7686.

Recall number 04V010000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Ce model school buses which fail to comply to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, school bus body joint strength. The roof top sheet may be improperly located, reducing the material edge distance at the rivet line.

Risk

In the event of a vehicle crash, the joint strenght could fail possibily resulting in injuries to the vehicle occupants.

Remedy

Ic will notify its customers and will provide inspection and repair instruction. The recall began on january 25, 2005. 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 ic customer service at (we do not yet have a telephone number for this campaign.)

Recall number 03V354000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain flat floor school buses were built with the incorrect hydraulic brake drop hoses from frame to axle. The hoses installed were 3 inches shorter than specified and may fail from tension caused by axle articulation.

Risk

This hose failure will result in the loss of rear brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the hoses and bleed the brake system. Owner notification began on october 9, 2003. Owners should contact ic at 1‑800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 03V326000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "bus emergency exits and window retention and release." these buses do not comply with the emergency exit requirements.

Risk

During an emergency situation, this condition could prevent passengers from exiting the bus, which could cause personal injury or death.

Remedy

Dealers will add one roof exit in the center of the passenger compartment. All owners have been notified and arrangements made to remedy their buses.

Recall number 03V195000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain school bus warning lamps, a static electricity discharge can occur during normal services or handling. This discharge can potentially initiate a chemical reaction of materials within the lamp which could cause the lens to fracture.

Risk

If the lens fractures, it can cause injuries to persons directly in front of it.

Remedy

Sound off will notify the customers and make arrangements to go out to the operating facilities and replace the warning lamps free of charge. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact sound off at 800‑338‑7337 or ic at 501‑505‑2190.

Recall number 03V054000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain buses equipped with hydraulic brakes, the master cylinder was damaged during the fill and bleed procedure.

Risk

This damage can cause brake drag, brake lock-up or extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the master cylinder. Owner notification began january 27, 2003. 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 ic corporation at 1‑800‑993‑7686.

Recall number 02V343000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: certain buses were built with a wiring diagram decal that shows the circuit protection size of 30 amperes instead of 20 amperes for the heater supply circuits.

Risk

Electrical component failure without the correct protection in some cases can cause overheating of the component and/or fire.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with a strip and installation instructions that should be placed over the incorrect information on the current decal. Owner notification began december 21, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free strip and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact amtran at 1‑800‑993‑7686.

Recall number 01V369000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: certain school and transit buses were built with a poor quality heater/defroster blower switch. In some cases this has caused the melting of the heater harness connector at the switch terminals or the high-speed wire insulation at the connector. Also, some of the units had improper circuit protection size installed in the heater defroster circuit.

Risk

If an operator detects smoke or the smell of melting wire insulation from the blower control panel, the operation of the heater/defroster at high speed should be discontinued until the repair is made.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with instructions and parts to replace the switch and switch harness with a new switch, switch harness, relay and relay harness. For the re units built prior to january 1, 1999, the kit will also include a 20-ampere manual circuit breaker. Owner notification began december 15, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact amtran at 800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 01V241000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: certain buses were built with an improper connection of the heater harness from the heater switch to the connector just outside the heater unit. The assembly left a loose hot wire in the heater harness with an unprotected terminal that could cause a direct short. This wire is protected with a 20-ampere circuit protection, but in a rare case could cause a fire.

Risk

Electrical component failure without the correct protection in some cases can cause overheating of the component.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with instructions on how to repair the defect. The repair procedure for this defect will require placing the connectors correctly in the terminals to the high-speed blower relay and harness connection at the heater. Owner notification began december 18, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free instructions within a reasonable time should contact amtran at 1‑800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 01V350000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with 39-inch flip seats. The flip seats could bind in the occupied position and not return to the stored position when not occupied. The cushion frame support bar slides off the seat support pad, which could retain the seat in the occupied position.

Risk

The seat could block the aisle to the emergency exit during an emergency, which may result in injury or death.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with instructions and parts to repair the seats free of charge. Owner notification began october 23, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact amtran at 800‑843‑5615.

Recall number 01V269000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses equipped with rosco cross over mirrors. The position of the driver's rear view mirror does not allow complete visibility of pedestrians as required under federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 111, "rearview mirrors."

Risk

A pedestrian could be injured or killed if the driver of the school bus cannot see them.

Remedy

Amtran will notify owners with instructions to reposition the driver's rear view mirror up 3 1/8 inches. Owner notification began june 4, 2001. 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 501‑505‑2190.

Recall number 01V145001 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school and transit buses. Some certification labels displayed the incorrect tire pressure for the tire specified to meet the gross axle weight rating for the front and/or rear axles. This does not meet the certain requirements of fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars," and 49 cfr part 567, "certification."

Risk

Under or over-inflated tires can cause or contribute to premature tire failure, possibly resulting in a sudden blowout or other failure which could result in a loss of control of the vehicle.

Remedy

New certification labels are being provided to owners. Owner notification began march 16, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free certification label within a reasonable time should contact amtran at 1‑800‑993‑7686.

Recall number 01V057000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses built with bendix air ABS with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu). There have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Risk

This condition could cause the ABS ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the ABS ecu.

Recall number 00V232101 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss 565, "vehicle identification number requirements." the vehicles have the wrong model year code in the vehicle identification number (VIN).

Risk

These errors will affect the registration of the vehicle.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with corrected certification labels.

Recall number 00V208000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses with or without seat belts equipped with between the frame rail fuel tank option and 39 and 45 inch anchor passenger seats (seat belt ready seats). These buses were built without the under floor reinforcement plate on the inboard seat mountings about the tank. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."

Risk

In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained resulting in personal injury.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with instructions on inspection, repairing and reinforcement plates. Owner notification began august 11, 2000. 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.

Recall number 00V182000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school bus. An air brake line controlling the rear brakes may be too close to the exhaust pipe and could rupture at any time without warning.

Risk

Exhaust pipe heat can melt or cause premature failure of this air line if the air line is routed too close to the exhaust pipe.

Remedy

Dealers will install a new elbow fitting and reroute the air line. The air line will also be inspected and replaced if found to be damaged from the exhaust pipe.

Recall number 99V331000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses. Some heater/defroster units were built with the blower motor wired improperly. When wired improperly the blower motor runs backward and airflow for heating and defrosting is very limited. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems."

Risk

Defrosting needs may not be achieved and could restrict driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Owners will be instructed on how to inspect and repair the defect by switching the connection of two wires.

Recall number 99V253000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses equipped with anchor seats. Some of the seats were built with a seat mounting bolt that failed during testing. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."

Risk

In the event of a crash, personal injury could occur.

Remedy

Owners will be instructed on how to inspect to the defect and repair the defect by replacing one bolt per seat.

Recall number 99V252000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school bus. Some forward handrails with outward opening entrance doors were built with the hand rail mounting too close to the engine cover. Certain clothing articles such as draw strings can become lodged in the forward handrails at the bus doors when a person is exiting the bus.

Risk

If the driver is unaware of the situation, the entrance door may be closed, capturing the item in the door. Death or injury can occur to the person exiting the bus.

Remedy

Owners will be provided with instructions on how to identify the defect and repair procedures. If the owner prefers, an amtran dealer can perform the remedy for them.

Recall number 99V195000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: school buses equipped with flip seats at the emergency exits. The seat cushion hinge on the combination flip seat is located in such a manner that it is within easy reach of the passenger sitting in the seat located behind the combo flip seat.

Risk

The hinges on the combo flip seat can cause a pinching condition, resulting in personal injury.

Remedy

Owners will be notified and sent kits to remedy these seats.

Recall number 99V061000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Transit and school buses. Some rear brake assemblies were built using incorrect mounting hardware. Improper torque of the fastener or fasteners that retain the brakes to the rear axle could allow brake groups to separation from the rear axle.

Risk

Separation of the rear axle could cause a crash.

Remedy

Dealers/owners will inspect the mounting hardware and replace the lock nuts if necessary.

Recall number 99V038000 · Recall details