2002 Amtran RE: complaints, problems and recalls

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

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2004-10-28 (October 28, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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.