The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN BUSES WERE BUILT WITH AN IMPROPER CONNECTION OF THE HEATER HARNESS FROM THE HEATER SWITCH TO THE CONNECTOR JUST OUTSIDE THE HEATER UNIT. THE ASSEMBLY LEFT A LOOSE HOT WIRE IN THE HEATER HARNESS WITH AN UNPROTECTED TERMINAL THAT COULD CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT. THIS WIRE IS PROTECTED WITH A 20-AMPERE CIRCUIT PROTECTION, BUT IN A RARE CASE COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
The risk
ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURE WITHOUT THE CORRECT PROTECTION IN SOME CASES CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE COMPONENT.
The remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THIS DEFECT WILL REQUIRE PLACING THE CONNECTORS CORRECTLY IN THE TERMINALS TO THE HIGH-SPEED BLOWER RELAY AND HARNESS CONNECTION AT THE HEATER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-800-843-5615.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Amtran FE | 2001, 2002 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtran FE | 2001 | 0 | 12 |
| Amtran FE | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2001
35 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the electrical system; AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. filed 44 campaigns in all.
| 01V387000 17 Dec 2001 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 01V370000 13 Dec 2001 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING,INC. |
| 01V366000 4 Dec 2001 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 01V369000 20 Nov 2001 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 01V294000 17 Sept 2001 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V288000 10 Sept 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V292000 10 Sept 2001 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 01V253000 2 Aug 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001