2000 Amtran FE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2000-07-05 (July 5, 2000)

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."

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2000-08-21 (August 21, 2000)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2001-11-20 (November 20, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2001-08-26 (August 26, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2001-11-20 (November 20, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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.)

Reported: 2004-01-02 (January 2, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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.