2008 Ic Bus BESB: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)

CERTAIN IC SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 11, 2005, AND OCTOBER 31, 2006. THESE BUSES HAVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ISSUES: IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS IN THE HIGHEST AND MOST REAR POSITION, THE BACK OF THE SEAT MAY LEAN AGAINST A BARRIER BEHIND THE SEAT, OR AGAINST THE SEAT BACK. THIS WILL PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM RETRACTING WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. WHEN ADJUST THE SEAT TO A HIGHER POSITION, THE DRIVER MAY PULL THE SEAT PAST THE LAST STOP SO THAT THE SEAT SITS ON THE ADJUSTING PIN, WHICH ALLOWS THE SEAT TO TEETER ON TOP OF THE PIN. IF OVER-TRAVEL OCCURS, THE UPPER SEAT PEDESTAL TUBE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER PEDESTAL TUBE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THE DRIVER IS SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND REACHES TO ADJUST THE SEAT HEIGHT, THEIR WEIGHT WILL CAUSE THE SEAT TO DROP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THEIR HAND BEING PINCHED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE LEVER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS DIFFICULT TO ADJUST TO A HIGHER POSITION BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT OF THE ALL BELTS TO SEAT (ABTS) DESIGN.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: IC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT IC AT 1-800-448-7825.

Reported: 2007-06-01 (June 1, 2007)

CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 20 AND SEPTEMBER 28, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH RICON WHEELCHAIR LIFTS . THE LIFT INNER BARRIER INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER ON THE INNER BARRIER AND ALLOW THE PLATFORM TO MOVE DOWN MORE THAN ONE INCH BELOW FLOOR LEVEL WHILE OCCUPIED WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Consequence: 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. 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. 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: INTERNATIONAL IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 06E101). THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT RICON AT 818-267-3012 OR INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

Reported: 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)

NAVISTAR IS RECALLING 1,889 IC SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 4, 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: NAVISTAR IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR NAVISTAR AT 1-260-461-1890.

Reported: 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)

NAVISTAR IS RECALLING 1,607 MY 2007 THROUGH 2009 IC BESB, CESB, FESB, AND RESB SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 4, 2006 THROUGH NOVEMBER 15, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH RICON S OR K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES."

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: NAVISTAR IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR NAVISTAR AT 1-260-461-1890.