The defect
MY 2002 AND 2003 GUIDE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 1, 2002, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2003. VARIOUS SEAMS IN THE SCHOOL BUS BODIES WERE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. VERTICAL SEAMS IN THE INTERIOR WERE NOT BONDED AS REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAMS OF THE BUS MAY SEPARATE AT SMALLER LOADS THEN EXPECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
MID BUS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND ADD ADDITIONAL FASTENERS TO THE ROOF SEAMS, INTERIOR SEAMS, AND THE MOISTURE BARRIER SKIN BELOW THE FLOOR TO ENSURE THAT THE SEAMS ARE AS INTENDED AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, DO NOT PREMATURELY SEPARATE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 15, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MID BUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 877-358-6055.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| MID Bus Guide | 2002, 2003 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| MID Bus Guide | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
| MID Bus Guide | 2003 | 1 | 10 |
Other structure recalls in 2003
21 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the structure; MID BUS CORPORATION filed 12 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. |
| 03V363000 8 Oct 2003 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 03V350000 26 Sept 2003 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 03V354000 23 Sept 2003 | IC CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003