The defect
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THESE BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE EMERGENCY EXIT REQUIREMENTS.
The risk
DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT PASSENGERS FROM EXITING THE BUS, WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL ADD ONE ROOF EXIT IN THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALL OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO REMEDY THEIR BUSES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Amtran FE | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
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 | 2000 | 0 | 9 |
| Amtran FE | 2001 | 0 | 12 |
| Amtran FE | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
| Amtran FE | 2003 | 0 | 10 |
Other structure recalls in 2003
21 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the structure; IC CORPORATION filed 21 campaigns in all.
| 03V535000 18 Dec 2003 | BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC |
| 03V533000 12 Dec 2003 | TRAIL KING INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 03V469000 12 Nov 2003 | BENSON INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
| 03V439000 4 Nov 2003 | GLAVAL BUS DIVISION |
| 03V458000 24 Oct 2003 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 03V403000 16 Oct 2003 | MID BUS CORPORATION |
| 03V363000 8 Oct 2003 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 03V350000 26 Sept 2003 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003