The defect
CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." DUE TO CERTAIN SEATING ARRANGEMENTS, THE EMERGENCY EXIT RELEASE HANDLES DID NOT FALL IN THE ACCEPTABLE REGION SET FORTH BY THE STANDARD.
The risk
THE RELEASE MECHANISMS FOR THE REAR WINDOW MARKED AS AN "EMERGENCY EXIT" WERE PARTIALLY BLOCKED SO ACCESS TO THE MECHANISMS WOULD BE PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED. THERE COULD BE CONFUSION IN LOCATING THE EMERGENCY EXIT RELEASE HANDLES IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The remedy
THE REAR WINDOW EMERGENCY EXIT STICKERS WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED. OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DIAMOND COACH AT 1-800-241-8678, EXTENSION 13.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1993 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Diamond Coach TC18FD | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the structure; DIAMOND COACH CORPORATION filed 13 campaigns in all.
| 02V295000 14 Nov 2002 | WABASH NATIONAL CORP. |
| 02V273000 4 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V247000 13 Sept 2002 | AIRSTREAM, INC. |
| 02V237000 9 Sept 2002 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 02V200000 7 Aug 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V173000 12 Jul 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V167000 25 Jun 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V116000 17 Apr 2002 | SUPREME CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002