Flxible METRO recalls by model year

Reported: 1984-01-01 (January 1, 1984) · Model years: 1983, 1984

SOME BUSES MAY HAVE MISALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND THE GEAR BOX.

Remedy: REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER JACKET TUBE BEARING, STEERING MOUNTING BRACKET, AND POSSIBLY THE WHEEL TUBE.

Reported: 1986-12-01 (December 1, 1986) · Model years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

ONLY TWO EMERGENCY WINDOW EXISTS WERE IDENTIFIED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUS, INSTEAD OF THREE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 217. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 217.

Remedy: EMERGENCY EXIT INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE ADDED TO THE THIRD WINDOW ON THE LEFT SIDE TO IDENTIFY THIS WINDOW POSITION AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT.

Reported: 1987-05-13 (May 13, 1987) · Model years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

THE FLASHING MODE OF THE DECELERATION LIGHT SYSTEM IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 108.

Consequence: FLASHING DECELERATION LIGHTS MAY BE CONFUSING TO OTHERDRIVERS; BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108.

Remedy: MODIFY DECELERATION LIGHTS TO REMOVE THE FLASHING MODE.

Reported: 1989-03-22 (March 22, 1989) · Model years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

THE ENTRANCE DOOR EMERGENCY RELEASE MECHANISM MAY EXCEED THE 20 LB. FORCE ALLOWED BY FMVSS 217.

Consequence: BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD.

Remedy: REPAIR RELEASE CABLE MECHANISM TO COMPLY WITH STANDARD.

Reported: 1985-01-31 (January 31, 1985) · Model years: 1984

THE SAGINAW TILT STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY HAS TWO PIVOT BUSHINGS AND TWO MATING RETAINING BOLTS. THESE RETAINING BOLTS CAN LOOSEN, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE PIVOT BUSHINGS TO MOVE INTO THE TURNING ARC OF THE COLUMN SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE PIVOT BUSHINGS MOVE AND INTERFERS WITH UNIVERSAL JOINT OF THE COLUMN STEERING SHAFT IT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: THE TWO PIVOT BUSHINGS WILL BE REMOVED, GREASED, AND REINSTALLED IN THE COLUMN HOUSING. A THREAD LOCKING COMPOUND WILL BE USED ON THE THREADS OF THE TWO PIVOT BUSHING RETAINING BOLTS. THE TWO EXTERNAL TOOTH SHAKEPROOF LOCKWASHERS WILL BE REPLACED WITH INTERNAL TOOTH SHAKEPROOF LOCKWASHERS. THE PIVOT BUSHING RETAINING BOLTS WILL BE INSTALLED TO A SPECIFIED TORQUE VALUE.

Reported: 1985-10-25 (October 25, 1985) · Model years: 1984, 1985

CERTIFICATION LABELS CONTAIN ERRORS IN THE VIN CODE. ON SOME 1984 AND 1985 BUSES THE CHECK DIGIT CONTAINS A "DASH (-)" RATHER THAN THE REQUIRED NUMBER (8). ALSO ON SOME 1984 BUSES THE CODE FOR THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURER IS INCORRECT. THE TENTH DIGIT CONTAINS A "D" (1984) INSTEAD OF AN "E" (1985). CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: BUSES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 115.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEW CERTIFICATION LABEL WITH THE CORRECT VIN CODE WHERE THE CHECK DIGIT IS INCORRECT. ALSO NOTIFY THE OWNERS CONCERNING THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURER ERROR.

Reported: 1988-05-11 (May 11, 1988) · Model years: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987

DUE TO INCREASED BULB LOAD ON THE FLASHER, WHEN OPERATED IN HAZARD MODE, FLASHER DID NOT MEET PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108.

Consequence: BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108.

Remedy: INSTALL A COMBINATION TURN HAZARD FLASHER THAT COMPLIES WITH STANDARD.

Reported: 1986-12-23 (December 23, 1986) · Model years: 1985, 1986

INCORRECT LOCK WASHERS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE TILT STEERING COLUMN PIVOT BUSHING BOLTS AND THE COLUMN HOUSING PIVOT MAY BE MISALIGNED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: PIVOT BOLT COULD LOOSEN AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: INSTALL PROPER LOCK WASHER AND CORRECT MISALIGNMENT OF COLUMN HOUSING PIVOT.

Reported: 1987-05-13 (May 13, 1987) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

AN INCORRECT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO RETAIN THE TILT STEERING COLUMN PIVOT BUSHINGS.

Consequence: BOLT MAY NOT MAINTAIN SPECIFIED TORQUE AND COULD BREAKOR WORK LOOSE AND FALL OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: INSTALL PROPER SAE GRADE 5 BOLT.

Reported: 1987-05-13 (May 13, 1987) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

STEERING COLUMN LOWER SHAFT MAY BE TOO LONG ALLOWING EXCESSIVE THRUST LOAD TO BE APPLIED TO UPPER HOUSING BEARINGS AND STEERING TRANSFER BOX BEARINGS.

Consequence: BEARINGS COULD FAIL OR SEIZE, RESULTING IN LOSS OFSTEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: REPLACE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WITH ONE OF PROPER LENGTH.

Reported: 1995-12-14 (December 14, 1995) · Model years: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

THESE BUSES HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED. NO OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED BY WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTIVATION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS COULD CAUSE A VISIBILITY PROBLEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO ACTIVATE ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED.

Reported: 1990-05-07 (May 7, 1990) · Model years: 1987, 1989

WINDOW INSERT IN DRIVER'S BARRIER ENCLOSURE WAS NOT MARKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FMVSS 205.

Consequence: BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105 STANDARD.

Remedy: INSTALL A DECAL CONTAINING THE REQUIRED DATA ON THE GLAZING.

Reported: 1988-12-27 (December 27, 1988) · Model years: 1988

THE ADJUSTABLE LENGTH TETHER BELT INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT ON SEAT FRAME AND ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENT POINT FAILED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207.

Consequence: TETHER BELT LENGTH FAILED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS207. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE UNLATCHING OF THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM.

Remedy: THE TETHER BELT WILL BE ADJUSTED TO THE PROPER LENGTH ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Reported: 1989-10-12 (October 12, 1989) · Model years: 1988

FLOOR ANCHORAGE INSERT BOLTS FOR SECURING WHEELCHAIR ARE SUBJECT TO BREAK.

Consequence: A BROKEN OR DAMAGED BOLT MAY NOT ADEQUATELY RESTRAIN AWHEELCHAIR AND PERSON DURING HARD BUS MANEUVER OR DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: FLOOR ANCHORAGE MOUNTING INSERT DESIGN WILL BE CHANGED.

Reported: 1990-06-26 (June 26, 1990) · Model years: 1988

RETROFIT LIGHT SOCKETS FOR REAR STOP, TURN, TAIL AND BACKUP LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WOULD CAUSE THE BUSES TO BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 108.

Consequence: THESE BUSES WOULD NOT MEET THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTSOF FMVSS 108, AND MAY NOT HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT FOR MOTORISTS FOLLOWING THESEBUSES AND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW LIGHT SOCKETS AND NEW REAR LIGHT HOUSINGS ON BUSES.

Reported: 1990-12-14 (December 14, 1990) · Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990

ADJUSTABLE LENGTH TETHER BELT ON DRIVER'S AIR SUSPENSION TYPE SEAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO THE CORRECT LENGTH DURING MANUFACTURE.

Consequence: INCORRECT LENGTH BELTS WILL NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN DRIVERIN AN ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 207 AND FMVSS 210.

Remedy: PROPERLY ADJUST TETHER BELTS TO CORRECT LENGTH.

Reported: 1989-10-16 (October 16, 1989) · Model years: 1989

THE AIR LINES TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CHAMBER CAN BE PINCHED BY THE AUXILIARY HEATER CABINET IF THE AIR IN THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM BLEEDS OUT WHEN A LEAK DEVELOPS OR THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

Consequence: THIS WOULD AFFECT OPERATION OF BRAKES, CREATING APOTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REROUTE AIR LINES TO RIGHT REAR BRAKE CHAMBER TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE WITH THE AUXILIARY HEATER CABINET.

Reported: 1989-11-03 (November 3, 1989) · Model years: 1989

THE CLAMP LOAD MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE ON THE MATING STEERING BOX SPLINES DUE TO MANUFACTURING TOLERANCES AND/OR THE PINCH BOLT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TORQUED.

Consequence: INADEQUATE TORQUE MAY RESULT IN SLIPPAGE AND POSSIBLESHAFT DISENGAGEMENT WITH LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL; THIS COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE STEERING SHAFT.

Reported: 1990-08-20 (August 20, 1990) · Model years: 1989, 1990

WITH APPROXIMATELY TWO THREADS ENGAGEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT WITH STEERING SHAFT, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN IF NUT LOOSENS AND FALLS OFF.

Consequence: STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING COLUMN COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE STEERING WHEEL WITH NEW DESIGN WHEEL THAT ALLOWS FULL THREAD ENGAGEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT.

Reported: 1993-04-01 (April 1, 1993) · Model years: 1991

THE EMERGENCY RELEASE VALVE MOVES OUT OF POSITION CAUSING IT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ENTRANCE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED BY ACTIVATING THE EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE.

Consequence: THE INABILITY TO OPEN AN EMERGENCY EXIT DOES NOT COMPLYWITH FMVSS 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE", AND COULD RESTRICT THEABILITY OF OCCUPANTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

Remedy: THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS BEING DEVELOPED. BUSES WILL BE REPAIRED WHEN THE CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN DETERMINED.