AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION (AMTRAN)
(800) 843-5615 (IC corporation) (800) 993-7686 Production Dates: 7/31/01 - 4/12/04 04V-251Model(s): 2001 through 2004 IC RE and AmTran RE school buses (04302)
Recall Description: The instructions on how to operate the emergency exit did not meet the minimal letter height of 1-centirmeter. These buses fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release." The label may not be visible to the operator, possibly resulting in injury if the occupants are unable to exit the bus quickly in the event of a vehicle crash or fire.
Remedy: Dealers will mail new labels along with installation instructions.
Production Dates: 8/12/02 - 8/14/04 04V-097
Model(s): 2003 and 2004 American/IC CE, FE, and RE school buses and special needs buses (04301)
Recall Description: These buses are equipped with Sur-Loc (Kinedyne) "L" wheelchair tracks and all makes of wheelchair lift mounting bolts. The wheelchair tracks and mounting bolts could corrode if moisture occurs in the treated plywood floor. This could reduce the function of the track or the strength of the lift mounting bolts possibly resulting in personal injury to the occupants.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the Sur-Loc "L" tracks with protected tracks and mounting hardware. Also, the lift floor-mounting bolts will be replaced.
Production Dates: 10/14/91 - 3/4/03 04V-010
Model(s): 1992 through 2004 AmTran/IC FE school buses (03306)
Recall Description: 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 and are capable of cutting fingers or toes.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the panels.
Production Dates: October 2001 - 5/7/03 03V326
Model(s): 2002 & 2003 AmTran/IC CE flat floor school buses (03304)
Recall Description: These 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. This hose failure will result in the loss of rear brakes, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hoses and bleed the brake system.
Production Dates: 5/4/99 - 3/3/03 03V-195
Model(s): 2000 through 2003 AmTran FE (03-302)
Recall Description: 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. 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.
Note: All owners have been notified and arrangements made to remedy their buses.
Production Dates: 6/1/02 - 7/31/02 03V-118
Model(s): 2002 and 2003 AmTran CE (03-301)
Recall Description: Certain school buses equipped with flip seats fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release." Seats with seat belts were bolted to the floor without the use of required reinforcements under the floor. During a crash, this condition may allow the seat to become loose which could cause personal injury or death to the seat occupant.
Remedy: Dealers will add reinforcements to the seat mounting at the floor.
Production Dates: 7/1/99 - 2/28/03 03V-054
Model(s): 2003 AmTran FE and CE (03-002)
Recall Description: 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.
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.
Production Dates: 1/1/01 - 5/31/01 02V-200
Model(s): 2001 through 2003 AmTran RE (02-302)
Recall Description: Certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength." The entrance door stepwell vertical joints were built with an inadequate number of fasteners. The effectiveness of this joint during a crash could be reduced allowing separation of the joints which could result in an opening or protrusion of metal edges in the stepwell area, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with repair instructions and parts free of charge. Additional fasteners will be added to the vertical joints of the stepwell.
Production Dates: 8/10/01 - 5/1/02 02V-173
Model(s): AmTran IC 2002 (02-301)
Recall Description: Certain school buses equipped with an optional between-the-frame mounted fuel tanks fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 301, "Fuel System Integrity." These buses were built with the wrong crossmember. The crossmember installed was not of the same strength that was used in the certification of the fuel system to FMVSS No. 301. Failure of the crossmember during a crash could reduce the effectiveness of the integrity of the fuel system allowing leakage that exceeds regulation requirements. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new crossmember free of charge.
Production Dates: 4/29/01 - 9/24/01 01V-350
Model(s): AmTran 2000 through 2001 FE (01-305)
Recall Description: Certain school 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.
Production Dates: 11/9/96 - 5/31/02 01V-270
Model(s): AmTran 1997 through 2001 CS (01-304)
Recall Description: On certain school buses equipped with I-6 engines, plywood floors, and a driver insulation package, the accelerator pedal can stick in either a partial or full throttle position.
Production Dates: 8/18/99 - 7/25/01 01V-269
Model(s): AmTran 2000 through 2002 CS, RE, FE, IC (01-303)
Recall 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.
Production Dates: 1/1/95 - 5/1/31 01V-241
Model(s): AmTran 1996 through 2001 RE and FE (01-302)
Recall 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.
Production Dates: 4/6/00 - 4/23/01 01V-177
Model(s): AmTran 2000 through 2001 IC (01-301)
Recall Description: School buses equipped with Bus Boy Cross View Mirrors fail to meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." The left and right convex mirrors are located too low.
Production Dates: 8/00 - 3/01 01V-145.001
Model(s): AmTran 2001 models FE and RE (01-300)
Recall Description: These buses fail to meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors." The position of the driver's rear view mirror does not allow complete visibility of pedestrians.
Production Dates: 2/15/99 - 12/27/99 01V-057
Model(s): AmTran 1994-1997 Models RE and FE (99-304)
Recall Description: Some certification labels displayed the incorrect tire pressure for the tire specified to meet the GAWR for the front and/or rear axles. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars," and Part 567, "Certification."
Production Dates: 3/17/00 - 10/9/00 00V-420
Model(s): AmTran 2001 IC (00-305)
Recall Description: These buses were built using the wrong hardware to secure the driver seat to the driver’s platform. The seat could become loose and separate from the driver’s platform.
Production Dates: 7/31/00 - 11/2/00 00V-390
Model(s): AmTran 2001 RE (00-304)
Recall Description: School buses equipped with Hehr International rear exit windows with vandal locks. These buses were built with rear emergency exit windows incorporating a lock option that could be left in the lock position and allow the engine to be started. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
Production Dates: 7/31/00 - 8/28/00 00V-282
Model(s): AmTran 2000 IC (00-303)
Recall Description: These buses fail to comply with requirements of Part 565, "Vehicle Identification Number Requirements." These vehicles were built with improper model codes.
Production Dates: 3/17/00 - 8/10/00 00V-208
Model(s): AmTran 2001 Models FE, RE, and IC (00-302)
Recall Description: These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 565, "Vehicle Identification Number Requirements." The vehicles have the wrong model year code in the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Production Dates: 11/29/99 - 5/31/00 00V-182
Model(s): AmTran 2000 FE and RE Models (00-301)
Recall Description: FE models (without seat belts) and RE models (with and without seat belts) school buses equipped with the 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."
Production Dates: 8/99 - 9/99 99V-253
Model(s): AmTran FE Models IS (99-308)
Recall Description: 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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Production Dates: Through 9/99 99V-252
Model(s): AmTran FE Models IS, RE Models RS and Conventional Model SS (99-307)
Recall Description: Some of the seats were built with a seat mounting bolt that failed during testing. This does not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly."
Production Dates: 2/99 - 6/99 99V-195
Model(s): AmTran FE (IS2603, IS3000, IS3300, IS3309, IS3406, IS3503, IS3706, IS3900, and IS3909) (99-306)
Recall Description: Certain clothing articles such as draw strings can become lodged between the forward handrails at the bus doors as a person is exiting the bus.
Production Dates: 3/98 - 4/99 99V-146
Model(s): AmTran RE (RS3302 through RS3911) (99-305)
Recall Description: Some rear exit windows do not meet the requirements as specified under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 217, "Bus Window Retention and Release."
Production Dates: 6/92-2/99 99V-061
Model(s): Genesis (IS2603 through IS3909) (99-303)
- AmTran FE (IC3406 through IC3909)
- AmTran RE (RS3302 through RS3911)
- AmTran/Ward Volunteer (SS1506 through SS3306)
- AmTran Conventional (CS1506 through CS3306)
Recall Description: These vehicles are 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. The hinges on the combo flip seat can cause a pinching condition, resulting in personal injury.
Production Dates: 10/98-2/99 99V-038
Model(s): Genesis (IS2603 through IS3909) (99302)
- AmTran FE (IC3406 through IC3909)
- AmTran RE (RS3302 through RS3911)
- Stripped Chassis (FH1652)
Recall Description: 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 separate from the rear axle.
Production Dates: 2/88 - 10/96 98V-301
Model(s): Genesis, AmTran RE, Ward/AmTran Volunteer, Ward Senator Ward Patriot, Ward/AmTran Vanguard, and President (98305)
Recall Description: The emergency door hinges on these buses can bind from rust and/or corrosion causing difficulty in opening the door.
Production Dates: 9/97-9/98 98V-248
Model(s): Genesis (IS2806, IS2603, IS2903, IS3000, IS3009, IS3309, IS3406, IS3503, IS3600, IS3609, IS3706, IS3900, IS3909, IC3406, IC3909 & IC3503) AmTran RE (RS3302, RS3505, RS3708, & RS3911) Stripped Chassis (FH 1652) (98304)
Recall Description: These buses are equipped with five-spoke cast wheels which have mis-matched wheel spacer and clamps which could cause high stress on the wheel studs resulting in possible wheel stud failure.
Production Dates: 2/97-8/98 98V-200
Model(s): AmTran Conventional (98303)
Recall Description: Conventional model vehicles built with outward opening service doors and/or manual door controls. Certain clothing articles such as draw strings can become lodged between the control rod clevis and the attachment at the door as a person is exiting the bus.
Production Dates: 4/98-5/98 98V-123
Model(s): Genesis, RS3302, RS3505, RS3708, RS3911, RC3911, & FH1652 (98302)
Recall Description: Buses equipped with a 2-piece, NO5X7508 tilting steering column, or NO5X710 telescope and tilting steering column. The upper pinch bolt nut was omitted from the universal joint. This condition could cause the loss of steering control.
Production Dates: 10/91-5/98 98V-106
Model(s): Genesis, RS3302, RS505, RS3708, & RS3911 (98301)
Recall Description: 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. This could cause the loss of the headlights, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
