2001 Amtran RE: complaints, problems and recalls

EXPEIRENCING ELECTRICAL HARNESS MELT DOWN ON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUSES. USE THE LATEST AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT APPREARS TO BE THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE HEATERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE HEATER SWITCHES, INCLUDING THE SWITCHES ARE MELTING AND SHORTING TO GEATHER. ON THIS BUS THE BREAKER FAIL TO OPEN, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMMING FROM THE SWITCH PANEL TURNED OFF ALL SWITCHES, INSPECTED AND CALLED FOR SERVICE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 48,716 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064169 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-02 (August 2, 2000)

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).

Consequence: THESE ERRORS WILL AFFECT THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Reported: 2000-11-27 (November 27, 2000)

VEHICLE 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 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Consequence: DURING THE OPERATION OF THE BUS, THE WINDOW COULD REMAIN LOCKED AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOW INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE NONCOMPLIANCE.

Reported: 2001-04-26 (April 26, 2001)

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."

Consequence: 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.

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: 2002-08-07 (August 7, 2002)

CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." THE ENTRANCE DOOR STEPWELL VERTICAL JOINTS WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE NUMBER OF FASTENERS.

Consequence: 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. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IC AT 1-800-843-5615.

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: 2004-05-24 (May 24, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES, THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO OPERATE THE EMERGENCY EXIT DID NOT MEET THE MINIMAL LETTER HEIGHT OF 1-CENTERMETER. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO 217, BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE.

Consequence: THE LABEL MAY NOT BE VISIBLE TO THE OPERATOR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY IF THE OCCUPANTS CANNOT EXIT THE BUS QUICKLY.

Remedy: IC WILL MAIL NEW LABELS WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IC AT 501-505-2190.