2009 Micro Bird G5 SCHOOL BUS: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2010-03-25 (March 25, 2010)

CORP. MICRO BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 2007 AND MARCH 2010 FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE S AND K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.

Remedy: MICRO BIRD IS WORKING WITH RICON AND RICON WILL BE HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE RICON'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-060. RICON WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A WARNING DECAL AND A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON M,ARCH 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MICRO BIRD AT 1-819-477-2012.

Reported: 2010-03-25 (March 25, 2010)

CORP. MICRO BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 2008 AND MARCH 2010 FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE S AND K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFTS UP FUNCTION, IF THE SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONTINUED UPWARD TRAVEL MAY OVERRUN THE FLOOR LEVEL CUT OFF POINT.

Consequence: WHEN THE PLATFORM OVERRUNS THE VEHICLE FLOOR LEVEL AND STOPS AT AN ANGLE FROM 15-20 DEGREES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR TO TIP OVER AND FOR SOMEONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM TO FALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Remedy: CORP. MICRO BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. CURRENTLY RICON IS DEVELOPING A SOFTWARE SOLUTION AND IS NOT AVAILABLE. UNTIL THE SOFTWARE SOLUTION IS AVAILABLE, RICON WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A BULLETIN OUTLINING PROPER WHEELCHAIR LIFT OPERATION AND WILL SHIP OWNERS A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID TO PROMOTE PROPER LIFT OPERATION AT NO COST. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MICRO BIRD AT 1-819-477-2012.

Reported: 2011-12-23 (December 23, 2011)

MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2012 G5 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 24, 2009, THROUGH DECEMBER 3, 2011. THE JOINT ON THE METAL CEILING PANEL FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE METAL CEILING PANEL MAY PARTIALLY SEPARATE FROM THE BODY STRUCTURE CREATING AN OPENING. A PASSENGER IS AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY IF THEY ARE EJECTED OR STRIKE THE CEILING PANEL.

Remedy: MICRO BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 5, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MICRO BIRD AT 1-819-477-2012.

Reported: 2014-10-06 (October 6, 2014)

Corp. Micro Bird Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 MB II and G5 school buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to January 9, 2014, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Remedy: Micro Bird will notify owners and Ricon will supply supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began during December 2014. Owners may contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012 extension 401 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 14-058-RIU.

Reported: 2015-11-18 (November 18, 2015)

Corp. Micro Bird Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 MBII, G5, and T-Series school buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2014, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts built by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Consequence: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Remedy: Micro Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 15-063-RUS.

Reported: 2017-12-12 (December 12, 2017)

Corp. Micro Bird Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2006-2017 G5 school buses with an unloaded weight more than 10,013 pounds. In a rollover, the roof may crush excessively. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 220, "School Bus Rollover Protection."

Consequence: If roof crushes more than the rollover standards allow for the weight and configuration of the bus, the occupants have a greater risk of injury in the event of a rollover crash.

Remedy: Micro Bird will notify owners, and dealers will modify the buses to prevent the roof from crushing excessively in a rollover, free of charge. The recall began on January 26, 2018. For more information, owners may contact Micro Bird at 1-819-475-9633. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 17-072-GUS.

Reported: 2020-03-06 (March 6, 2020)

Corp. Micro Bird Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2004-2021 T-Series, G5, and MBII school buses. The emergency door retaining device may fail to keep the door in an open position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Consequence: If the emergency door won't stay open during an evacuation it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Micro Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install a kit to repair the emergency door retaining device, free of charge. The recall April 24, 2020. Owners may contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 20-084-RUS.

Reported: 2021-07-13 (July 13, 2021)

Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2003-2022 MBII, T-Series, and G5 school buses. The emergency release handle on the service door may bind, not allowing the door panels to open.

Consequence: The service door may not open, preventing evacuation of the vehicle in case of emergency, and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will provide instructions on how to correctly adjust the service door, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 8, 2021. Owners may contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 21-087-DUS.

Reported: 2022-04-28 (April 28, 2022)

Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2006-2021 MBII and G5 school buses. An inactive electrical harness that is secured in an opening in the B-pillar may become damaged from sharp edges inside the opening.

Consequence: A damaged electrical harness may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will secure the electrical harness and remove the fuse linked to the main cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Micro Bird's customer service at 1-819-477-2012. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 22-092-HUC.

Reported: 2022-04-28 (April 28, 2022)

Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2006-2021 MBII and G5 transit buses. An inactive electrical harness that is secured in an opening in the B-pillar may become damaged from sharp edges inside the opening.

Consequence: A damaged electrical harness may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will secure the electrical harness and remove the fuse linked to the main cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Micro Bird's customer service at 1-819-477-2012. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 22-092-HUS.

Reported: 2024-06-27 (June 27, 2024)

Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2008-2025 G5, 2008-2024 MBII, and 2015-2024 T-Series school buses. The rear emergency door exterior handle may unexpectedly break under applied force.

Consequence: In the event of an emergency, a broken door handle can prevent or delay emergency responders from entering the bus, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear emergency door exterior handle, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2024. Owners may contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 24-109-EUS.

Reported: 2026-03-13 (March 13, 2026)

Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. (Micro Bird) is recalling certain 2003-2026 MB II, 2006-2026 G5, and 2015-2026 T-Series school buses. An installation error may prevent the wheelchair tie-downs from locking, leaving the wheelchair improperly secured.

Consequence: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit or a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the anchor screw cap as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2026. Owners can contact Micro Bird Customer Service at 819-477-2012. Micro Bird's number for this recall is 26-120-AUS.