The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FRONT ENGINE CARPENTER SCHOOL BUSES WITH FRONT AIR SUSPENSIONS. DUE TO FRAME FLEXING, BOTH THE TRACK BAR MOUNT, MOUNTING BOLTS, AND THE STEERING BOX MOUNTING BOLTS COULD LOOSEN WHICH COULD ALLOW SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE OR TORQUE LOSS OF THESE BOLTS. THE SPRING BEAM COULD ALSO FRACTURE.
The risk
THIS COULD AFFECT THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THREE STRUCTURAL, WELDED CROSS-MEMBERS TO TIE TOGETHER THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME RAILS, ALL LOCATED FORWARD OF THE FRONT AXLE. STIFFENING GUSSETS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO EXISTING FRAME CROSS-MEMBERS AND THE TO STEERING GEAR BOX MOUNTING BRACKET.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Spartan SB2142 | 1997, 1998 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartan SB2142 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan SB2142 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
Other suspension recalls in 2000
49 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the suspension; SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. filed 45 campaigns in all.
| 00V426000 26 Dec 2000 | POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V358010 26 Dec 2000 | TRAVEL SUPREME, INC. |
| 00V358004 22 Dec 2000 | SOONER TRAILER |
| 00V358009 21 Dec 2000 | SUNNYBROOK RV INC. |
| 00V358003 20 Dec 2000 | PETERSON INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V358011 19 Dec 2000 | PERFORMANCE FIRST, INC. |
| 00V421002 18 Dec 2000 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 00V358007 18 Dec 2000 | MO TRAILERS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000