2005 Girardin MB IV: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)

CERTAIN GIRARDIN MINIBUS MY 2004 AND 2005 MB II AND MBIV FORD DIESEL SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL BBX (BATTERY BOX) MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 14, 2004 AND FEBRUARY 9, 2005. THE ELECTRICAL CABLES (P/NOS. 27DF01 AND 27DF3001) BETWEEN THE BATTERIES AND THE BATTERY JUNCTION BOX (UNDER THE HOOD) HAS NO FUSABLE LINK FOR CABLE PROTECTION.

Consequence: THERE IS NO PROTECTION ON THE ELECTRICAL CABLE AND IF THERE IS A SHORT CIRCUIT, IT MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSTALL A FUSABLE LINK AT THE END OF THE CABLE ATTACHED TO THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222.

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: 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)

CERTAIN GIRARDIN 2004 AND 2005 MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 6, 2004, AND FEBRUARY 10, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER COMPRESSOR MOUNT BRACKETS, P/N 86-62400-00. THIS WELD IS USED TO MOUNT THE SECONDARY COMPRESSOR FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ON TO THE ENGINE. IF THE INSTALLER DOES NOT ADEQUATELY TORQUE THE MOUNTING HARDWARE OR THERE IS A POOR QUALITY WELD AT THE WELDMENT'S SUPPORT TAB, THE WELDMENT CAN BREAK OR FALL OFF.

Consequence: IF THE WELDMENT BREAKS OR FALLS OFF, THE COMPRESSOR AND VACUUM PUMP COULD SHIFT CAUSING THE MISALIGNMENT AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE DRIVE BELT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF OR IMPEDANCE TO THE VEHICLE'S PRIMARY BRAKING SYSTEM, AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT CARRIER AT 717-767-3359 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.TRANSICOLD.CARRIER.COM FOR FREE REMEDY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT GIRARDIN MINIBUS SERVICE AND WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AT 819-477-8222.

Reported: 2006-04-24 (April 24, 2006)

CERTAIN GIRARDIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES AND 2006 MB II SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 29, 2005, AND MAY 10, 2006, AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON K-SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, P/N K5505-F1020000A & K2010-F1020000A. THE WELDING PROCESS MAY NOT HAVE ACHIEVED FULL PENETRATION ALONG THE SEAM OF THE VERTICAL ARMS. IMPROPERLY WELDED VERTICAL ARMS WILL NOT ALLOW THE LIFT TO STOW PROPERLY.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE LIFT DOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCKS TO REMAIN ENGAGED PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE ABILITY TO LOAD OR UNLOAD PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: RICON IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06E008000) AND WILL REPLACE THE TWO VERTICAL ARMS EVEN IF ONLY ONE ARM IS CRACKED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SUPPORT DEPT. AT 800-322-2884 OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222.

Reported: 2007-12-13 (December 13, 2007)

CERTAIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2005 AND JUNE 2006, ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS WITH 6.6L ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN LIFT MODELS NL916, NL917, AND NL919. THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS DESIGNED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Consequence: SHOULD THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM FAIL TO OPERATE, THE LIFT USER CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY GIRARDIN INSTRUCTING THEM TO CONTACT BRAUN FOR FREE REPAIR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 18, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT BRAUN PRODUCT SUPPORT AT 1-800-946-7513 OR GIRARDIN MINIBUS SERVICE AND WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AT 819-477-8222.

Reported: 2007-12-14 (December 14, 2007)

CERTAIN MY 2004 THROUGH 2008 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL MINIBUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 14, 2004, AND NOVEMBER 28, 2007, BUILT ON FORD E350 AND E450 DIESEL CHASSIS. THE AFFECTED BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTION BBX (BATTERY BOX). THE PROTECTION FROM ABRASION ON THE BATTERY CABLES THAT CROSS IN THE BATTERY BOX IS INADEQUATE. IT MAY CREATE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN CASE THE ABRASION BETWEEN THE CABLES IS EXCESSIVE.

Consequence: THIS SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES BY ADDING PROTECTIVE TUBES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 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.