2003 Girardin MB IV: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)

CERTAIN MB IV SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD E-450 CHASSIS, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 26 AND MAY 7, 2004, WITH OPTION AWB-2, WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PRESSURE SWITCH FITTING P/N 23A200 ON THE POWER STEERING LINE TO ASSIST THE POWER BRAKE THIS FITTING MAY LEAK CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST.

Consequence: LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND EITHER REPLACE THE PRESSURE SWITCH FITTING WITH A NEW PRESSURE SWITCH FITTING P/N 23A200-REV A OR REMOVE THE DEFECTIVE PRESSURE SWITCH FITTING AND INSTALL THE "T" FITTING FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED DURING JUNE 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 GIRARDIN AT 819-477-3222.

Reported: 2004-09-07 (September 7, 2004)

CERTAIN MBII AND MBIV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES BUILT ON FORD E-350 & E-450, GM 3500 CHASSIS, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1, 1999, AND DECEMBER 31, 2003, AND 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 GIRARDIN'S CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. 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: 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)

CERTAIN MY 2003-2005 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 20, 2003, AND DECEMBER 16, 2004, (SEE AMENDED NONCOMPLIANCE REPORT RECEIVED AUGUST 18, 2005) BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS. SEATS EQUIPPED WITH THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, 'SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.'

Consequence: THE SEAT BACK MAY NOT ABSORB ENOUGH ENERGY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSTALL A FLAT BAR ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT WHERE THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGE IS BOLTED TO INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE SEAT BACK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 19, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222.

Reported: 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)

CERTAIN GIRARDIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 MB II & MB IV SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND AUGUST 8, 2005, AND EQUIPPED WITH "5" SERIES STOP ARMS MANUFACTURED BY SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.

Consequence: SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THE MICROSWITCH HEATER WIRING IS PROPERLY CONNECTED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 1-800-951-7867.

Reported: 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)

CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2005 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 17 AND OCTOBER 29, 2004. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE APPLIED TO THE ROOF SEAMS AND INTERIOR PANELS IS INADEQUATE FOR THE TYPE OF ADHESIVE USED WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH. ALSO, DUE TO THE INADEQUATE JOINT STRENGTH, THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE SEAT TEST REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AFFECTED PANELS AND SEATS MAY NOT RESIST AND THIS COULD POSSIBLY ENDANGER THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 1-819-477-8222.

Reported: 2010-08-13 (August 13, 2010)

CERTAIN GIRARDIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AND MICRO BIRD BY GIRARDIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2010 G5 AND 2003 THROUGH 2006 GIRARDIN MB IV TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXISTS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THERMAL T-SLIDER OR PANORAMIC TYPE PUSH-OUT WINDOWS WITH 2 RELEASE MECHANISMS (ONE ON EACH SIDE). THE WINDOW HANDLE BASE SPACER PLATE CAN TEAR DUE TO THE ROTATION OF THE EXTERIOR WINDOW FRAME.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE EMERGENCY EXIT COULD NOT SUFFICIENTLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT(S) OR BECOME INOPERABLE. THE OCCUPANT(S) COULD BE THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE OR NOT BE CAPABLE OF OPENING THE EMERGENCY EXITS WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT(S).

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL PROVIDE PARTS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MICRO BIRD AT 1-819-477-2012.