2006 Girardin MB IV: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2006-07-13 (July 13, 2006)

CERTAIN MY 2006 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 3 AND JUNE 19, 2006. THE 7" DIA. BACK-UP LIGHTS, P/N 32EZZ014, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence: THE PRESENCE OF THE MINIBUS MAY NOT BE PERCEIVED CORRECTLY OR ITS SIGNAL NOT UNDERSTOOD BY OTHER MOTORISTS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT BACK-UP LIGHTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 819-477-8222.

Reported: 2007-05-01 (May 1, 2007)

CERTAIN GIRARDIN SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH AND DECEMBER 2006. THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT NOT DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR'S OCCUPANT. ALSO, ANYONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM COULD LOSE HIS OR HER BALANCE AND FALL, RESULTING IN INJURY.

Remedy: GIRARDIN IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 06E101). THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222 EXT. 401 OR RICON AT 800-322-2884.

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.