2003 Amtran RE: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)

ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DAMAGED DURING THE FILL AND BLEED PROCEDURE.

Consequence: THIS DAMAGE CAN CAUSE BRAKE DRAG, BRAKE LOCK-UP OR EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 27, 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 IC CORPORATION AT 1-800-993-7686.

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: 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)

ON CERTAIN "SPECIAL NEEDS" SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SUR-LOC "L" WHEELCHAIR TRACKS, THE LIFT MOUNTING BOLTS COULD CORRODE IF MOISTURE OCCURS IN THE TREATED PLYWOOD FLOOR.

Consequence: THIS COULD REDUCE THE FUNCTION OF THE TRACK OR THE STRENGTH OF THE LIFT MOUNTING BOLTS RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUR-LOC "L" TRACKS WITH PROTECTED TRACKS AND MOUNTING HARDWARE. ALSO, LIFT FLOOR-MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MARCH 19, 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 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.